vil] ON THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE. 133 



by, I shall probably have recourse to the substance com- 

 monly called mutton, for the purpose of stretching it 

 back to its original size. Now this mutton was once 

 the living protoplasm, more or less modified, of another 

 animal — a sheep. As I shall eat it, it is the same matter 

 altered, not only by death, but by exposure to sundry 

 artificial operations in the process of cooking. 



But these changes, whatever be their extent, have not- 

 rendered it incompetent to resume its old functions as 

 matter of life. A singular inward laboratory, which I 

 possess, will dissolve a certain portion of the modified 

 protoplasm ; the solution so formed will pass into my 

 veins ; and the subtle influences to which it will then be 

 subjected will convert the dead protoplasm into living 

 protoplasm, and transubstantiate sheep into man. 



Nor is this all. If digestion were a thing to be trifled 

 with, I might sup upon lobster, and the matter of life of 

 the crustacean would undergo the same wonderful meta- 

 morphosis into humanity. And were I to return to my 

 own place by sea, and undergo shipwreck, the Crustacea 

 might, and probably would, return the compliment, and 

 demonstrate our common nature by turning my proto- 

 plasm into living lobster. Or, if nothing better were to 

 be had, I might supply my wants with mere bread, and 

 I should find the protoplasm of the wheat-plant to be 

 convertible into man, with no more trouble than that 

 of the sheep, and with far less. I fancy, than that of 

 the lobster. 



Hence it appears to be a matter of no great moment 

 what animal, or what plant, I lay under contribution for 

 protoplasm, and the fact speaks volumes for the general 

 identitv of that substance in all living beings. I share 

 this catholicity of assimilation with other animals, all of 

 which, so far as we know, could thrive equally well on 

 the protoplasm of any of their fellows, or of any plant ; 



