OIL-FOAMS AND PROTOPLASM 189 



by me; and if it must of necessity possess a very high 

 degree of complexity, it may be confidently predicted that 

 this complexity is to be sought in the province of chemistry, 

 as I have already attempted to explain elsewhere (1891). 

 Finally, according to Kiinstler, protoplasm must be " the 

 result of a special development, which can have nothing in 

 common with the mixtures prepared by me." Now I think- 

 that Kiinstler would find it difficult to reply if he were 

 asked for a more precise account of this special mode of 

 development, of which protoplasm is the result. I regret to 

 say that I, at least, know nothing definite concerning any 

 developmental history of protoplasm, although I am, of 

 course, greatly interested in it. So far as I have heard, 

 there has been much talk about the growth of protoplasm, 

 and some hypotheses concerning it have been put forward, 

 which, however, only deal with the mode in which complete 

 molecules or micelke of protoplasm are added to those 

 already in existence ; but, as I have said, I know nothing 

 of any special mode of development of protoplasm which 

 could be adduced in opposition to the validity of my 

 attempts to explain certain phenomena of protoplasm. 



Now, finally, I may be permitted to say a few words 

 as to the illustration, not conceived in the best of taste, 

 which Kiinstler brings in at the conclusion of his remarks 

 upon my comparison between artificial froths and proto- 

 plasm. This comparison is supposed to be just as " use- 

 less " as that " of a Medusa with an umbrella." Of course 

 if it was to be inferred that the Medusa consisted of the 

 framework of an umbrella, covered over with silk, linen, or 

 some other material, then the use of this metaphor would 

 not be at all inadmissible, even if the Medusa was manu- 

 factured by nature from special materials, while the 

 umbrella was made in X. and Co.'s workshop in the usual 

 way. But unfortunately this is not the case ; a Medusa 

 has no more internal resemblance to an umbrella than a 

 professor of Bordeaux to a statue. Were the resemblance 

 between artificial foams and protoplasm of a corresponding 

 character, I should then, of course, have every reason to strike 

 my colours. The affair, however, is not so bad as all that. 



