Life as a Physical Phenomenon. 165 



composition of the solution. Now is it not plain that these 

 ceaseless internal changes in living beings in noway differ 

 from those observed in minerals and that they are the 

 necessary physical results of evolution of force ? And were 

 it necessary to illustrate this point further we might refer 

 to seeds which after remaining buried beyOnd the disturb- 

 ing influences which cause germination, for hundreds of 

 years, have, when brought to the surface, sprouted and 

 grown as readily as those which ripened but the autumn 

 before. If a seed may remain alive for a thousand years 

 with no internal changes why may it not for six thousand ? 

 If it is not subjected to certain forces which disturb the 

 relations of its particles it may be as permanent as the gran- 

 ite hills. 



So the solution of copper, so long as the disturbing 

 element is not introduced, is a permanent solution ; but 

 once stretch the wire between the plates and let force be 

 evolved, and the destruction of the solution has com- 

 menced. 



There remains but the difference of origin. Why it is 

 that protoplasm is not organized except by the aid of a 

 nucleus of like nature we know not. But there are very 

 many things in nature of which we can give no account. 

 Are we assisted by bringing a name to our rescue, and 

 saying that it is vitality ? This method of resolving hard 

 problems in science has been too long in fashion, and should 

 be discarded. 



Why not frankly confess that we have not found out the 

 mystery of generation, and if it is worth finding out apply 

 ourselves to the solution of the mystery and not cover it 

 with a name which is but a dream of the imagination and 

 carries with it not the shadow of any scientific intrinsic 

 value ? 



