4 THEORY OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION. 



stances. For this reason the plasma behaves, both 

 chemically and physically, in many unlike ways, 

 and in consequence of the variable relation of the 

 micellae to water, the plasma shows all degrees of 

 micellar solution up to quite solid masses. 



3. SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. LIFE. GROWTH. 



If molecular forces are so combined in an inor- 

 ganic substratum that spontaneous formation of 

 albumen takes place, then by the combination of 

 the micellae the primordial plasma masses of spon- 

 taneous generation are given. Within these plasma 

 masses the production of albumen goes on more 

 easily under the influence of their molecular forces 

 than in the liquid without. Hence the compounds 

 present in the organic siibstratum and capable of 

 forming albumen enter preferably into the masses 

 of plasma, and by intussusception of micellae of 

 albumen, cause growth. Here life exists in its 

 simplest form. (See page 47.) 



Spontaneous generation presupposes the origin 

 of plasma-micellae from molecules, and hence cannot 

 be brought about by solutions of albumens or pep- 

 tones, since these are micellar solutions. Life pre- 

 supposes the intussusception of plasma-micellae; 

 hence it ceases as soon as the arrangement of micel- 

 lae is so far disordered by injurious influences that 

 that process of growth becomes impossible. 



The resulting organism must be perfectly simple, 



