33^ THE HISTORY OF CEEATTON. 



chemical composition and the physical forces of organic 

 matter as the vital phenomena of inorganic crystals — that is, 

 ihe process of their growth and their specific formation — are 

 the direct results of their chemical composition and of their 

 physical condition. The ultimate causes, it is true, remain 

 in both cases concealed from us. When gold and copper 

 crystallize in a cubical, bismuth and antimony in a 

 hexagonal, iodine and sulphur in a rhombic form of 

 crystal, the occurrence is in reality neither more nor less 

 mysterious to us than is every elementary process of 

 organic formation, every self-formation of the organic cell. 

 In this respect we can no longer draw a fundamental 

 distinction between organisms and anorgana, a distinction 

 of which, formerly, naturalists were generally convinced. 



Let us secondly examine the agreements and differences 

 which are presented to us in the formation of organic and 

 inorganic natural bodies (Gen. Morph. i. 130). Formerly 

 the simple structure of the latter and the composite 

 structure of the former were looked upon as the principal 

 distinction. The body of all organisms was supposed to 

 consist of dissimilar or heterogeneous parts, of instruments 

 or organs which worked together for the purposes of life. 

 On the other hand, the most perfect anorgana, that is to say, 

 crystals, were supposed to consist entirely of continuous or 

 homogeneous matter. This distinction appears very essen- 

 tial But it loses aU importance through the fact that in 

 late years we have become acquainted with the exceedingly 

 remarkable and important Monera.^^ (Compare above, 

 p. 185). The whole body of these most simple of all 

 organisms — a semi-fluid, formless, and simple lump of 

 albumen — consists, in fact, of only a single chemical combi- 



