M ONER A, AND THE PROBLEM OF LIFE. 685 



the expanding living substance will give rise to a restitution of the 

 entire mass more in the likeness of the higher protoplasm disintegrated 

 by the more subtile dynamical influences. Thus the constitution of the 

 protoplasm at the very beginning of its next pulse of recomposition 

 will, by this slight increment of complication, resemble a whit more its 

 molecular state, when at the height of its former expanding pulse. 

 The decomposition caused by the combined specific energies of the 

 medium will be followed by a somewhat higher composition. 



The elaboration of organic substances in plants is at all times 

 notably effected by a process similar to the one here indicated. It is 

 brought about by a twofold chemical activity, incited by a specific 

 dynamical influence of the medium. First there occurs a specific de- 

 composition, and then, in consequence, a somewhat altered recomposi- 

 tion ; or, technically expressed, there occurs reduction followed by 

 substitution. It is believed that under the influence of light there is 

 split off from carbonic acid one atom of oxygen, which is then replaced 

 by one atom of hydrogen: 2 COO + H 2 0-C 2 H 2 2 + 000. 



But, before examining the conditions under which this fundamental 

 and most weighty transformation of the inorganic into the organic 

 takes place, I will state, in further support of the gradual development 

 of the living substance, that the phenomenon of individual growth 

 gives in itself plain evidence of organic development having actually 

 occurred in the past. Growth is essentially a concise recapitulation of 

 developmental changes. 



But, not to complicate matters too much, I have here purposely left 

 out of consideration all manifestations appertaining to growth, as well 

 as those appertaining to propagation. Both these phases of organic 

 existence do not belong to the domain of production, but entirely to 

 that of reproduction. Propagation multiplies, growth reconstructs, 

 organic results previously achieved. 



Though it cannot be denied that the attentive observation of moneric 

 protoplasm has restricted the physical phase of the problem of life to 

 the limits of a purely chemical question, and though it may be con- 

 ceded that organic development is truly effected by means of chemical 

 activity dynamically incited, yet with many there will persist an un- 

 gratified curiosity concerning the origin of life. This dissatisfaction, 

 expressed in clear words, can only amount to the following objection : 

 " Granting that motility is merely the scientifically intelligible property 

 of a specific chemical compound, yet it has not been shown how on our 

 planet the first organic compound has actually started into existence." 



Against this rather radical claim on the science of life might be 

 urged, that we do not precisely know how, for instance, carbonic acid 

 has naturally originated. But we will be told that one has only to 

 bring carbon, under certain known conditions, together with oxygen, 

 and that then carbonic acid will invariably result. 



To this might again be replied that organic substances can also be 



