THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE 27 



not get out of liis head the inicroscopical picture of pro- 

 gressively (liniinishing magnitudes which, as if viewed 

 thivmgli an inverted telescope, disappear at last in van- 

 ishing perspective in the suh-niicroscopical depths. At the 

 nearer end of the picture are the plastids, larger or 

 smaller, and self-perpetuating by growth and division. A 

 step beyond are the central l)odies, often of such minute- 





• -T- v^ 'O. »:°o - . • . • 





FIG. 13 

 Protoplasm from the gro-ning star-fish egg, slightly schematized, showing the for- 

 mation and growth of formed bodies (macrosomes and microsomes). 



ness as to lie almost on the horizon of microscopical vi- 

 sion, but still capable of self -perpetuation by growth and 

 division, of enlargement to form nuich larger bodies, and 

 of exerting far-reaching effects on the surrounding struc- 

 tures. One more step, and the cytologist is l^eyond the 

 help of the microscope, wandering blindly in an miseen 

 but none the less real world. Tlie patliologists tantalize 

 him with visions of disease-p'erms which no eve has vet 



