The Presidenfs Address. By L. S. Beale, F.R.S. 215 



of its molecules show how utterly groundless is the supposition 

 that the phenomena of the living world are in any way to be 

 accounted for by material properties. Even in those cases in 

 which substances of the same composition as those which are 

 formed in a living organism, can be produced artificially, the 

 extraordinary difierence as regards the conditions existing in the 

 two cases will be sufficient to convince any unbiassed person of 

 the totally distinct nature of the processes concerned, and of the 

 utter incompatibility of the principles and laws by which they are 

 governed. Professor Dewar has recently succeeded in producing 

 hydrocyanic acid by the direct union of its elements, but the 

 temperature at which combination occurs is far above that of a 

 white heat. How, therefore, can an analogy obtain between a 

 process in which a substance is formed at such a very high 

 temperature, and one in which the same thing is produced at or 

 below 70" F. ? 



The argument has, however, been often advanced, that as our 

 present magnifying powers reveal such and such structural 

 characters, if we povssessed much higher powers of amplification 

 we should be able to discover structures still more delicate and 

 intricate than anyone has yet seen, and should demonstrate 

 structure in that which now appears destitute of it. But the 

 argument is fallacious, and for the reason that when we reach a 

 point well within our present range of observation we find in living 

 matter a structurelessness, the appearance of which is not in any 

 way altered by submitting it to the highest resolving power we 

 possess. And not only so, but within a very moderate range of 

 amplifying power, the matter in question may be proved to be a 

 more or less viscid or semifluid substance, portions of which move 

 from, and towards, now separating from, now intermingling with — 

 other portions of the mass. Unless, therefore, the term structure 

 be used in two difierent senses, it is actually at this moment certain 

 that living matter is structureless. Of any approach to that which 

 is known as structure, as seen in any tissue animal or vegetable, 

 there is not only no vestige, but the constitution of the matter, as 

 far as has been proved up to this time, justifies the conclusion that 

 there can be none. 



Still the idea of structure being the cause of the phenomena of 

 living matter lingers in the mind, and the observations of recent 

 investigators seem to indicate certain structural peculiarities in 

 the nucleus. Networks, filaments, frameworks of delicate fibres, 

 rodlets, and granules have all been seen in certain cases, but it has 

 by no means l)een made clear whether the appearances in question 

 are real structural peculiarities, developed for a purpose and 

 destined to discharge some special office or function, or whether 

 they are l)ut the result of accidental changes in the matter of 



