OBJECT AND LIVING ORGANISM 113 



relationship and homology, as regards the position as well 

 as the number of organs, remains quite problematical. 



We cannot say that morphology sought in Darwinism an 

 explanation of her particular rules. They were forced on her 

 by Darwinism, which had need of the stable rules of mor- 

 phology for the support of its own very shaky edifice. 



The association with Darwinism has not proved a blessing 

 to morphology, for in place of critical examination of dry 

 facts, the most fantastic genealogical trees have been drafted, 

 and this kind of thing has greatly interfered with the work- 

 ings of a science which has every right to be considered 

 painstaking and cautious. 



One thing, however, must be maintained. The existence 

 of a morphological science of living organisms is not just a 

 matter of course ; it is an exceedingly puzzling fact, which 

 cannot be deduced from analogy with non-living implements. 



Physiology. If by physiology we understand the study of 

 the functions of living things, then its chief task consists in 

 the functional analysis of the framework of organisms. In 

 making this analysis, it becomes evident that the structure 

 of the substance of which living beings are composed passes 

 over into the framework in such a way that we can never 

 make certain just where the one begins and the other ends. 



And here we find another reason for dissenting from the 

 mechanistic theory of life. For with all implements of man's 

 creating, as we break them up we always come upon pro- 

 perties of matter that do not enter into the framework, and 

 this because we have only very imperfect control of the 

 microscopic structure. 



More thorough investigation of the microscopical structure ^ 

 of the cells of all living organisms has brought to light the 

 very significant fact that every cell consists of two parts — a 

 part incorporated in the framework and a protoplasmic part. 

 Only the framework part of the cell, which has arisen from 



H 



