216 Transactions of the Society. 



which the nucleus consists, consequent upon its death and the 

 coagulation of some of its constituents, or perhaps occasioned by 

 the action of reagents, or by the media in which the specimen is 

 immersed. However this may be, it is quite certain that nuclei in 

 numberless instances in the living state are devoid of filaments, 

 granules, and every other indication of structure. Not only so, 

 but nuclei undoubtedly originate in living matter, which itself 

 affords no indication whatever of structure. 



Hidden Molecular Structure. 



As protoplasm is the matter out of which all cells are formed, 

 it cannot, it has been asserted, be destitute of structure. It 

 is already organized, but our Microscopes, it is said, are not 

 perfect enough to enable us to see any evidence of organization. 

 Some authorities, however, discard such ingenious hypotheses, and 

 frankly admit the absence of any definite structure which is 

 demonstrable. But then, say they, there must be some hidden 

 molecular structure or mechanism to account for the phenomena 

 manifested by the matter in its living state. But in favour of this 

 assertion no facts or arguments are adduced. Not one word as to 

 the nature of the supposed invisible undemonstrable molecular struc- 

 ture. Not one word concerning the way in which any of the hypo- 

 thetical molecules might be supposed to account for the observed 

 facts. No suggestion of the reason why the structure afiirmed to 

 exist, should exist. In this and in many other instances, men claim- 

 ing to have authority come before the public and assert that things 

 are so and so, without giving any grounds for their assertion. 



Imagined molecular difierences between two given masses of 

 protoplasm are held to be sufl&cient to account for wide difierences 

 in the results. Whether a given mass is to develop into a man or 

 a monkey, depends upon its " hidden molecular constitution." The 

 President of the British Association remarks, that "between two 

 masses of protoplasm indistinguishable from one another, there may 

 he as much molecular difference as there is between the form and 

 arrangement of organs in the most widely separated animals or 

 plants." — There "may he," — but the facts already known render 

 it much more probable that there are mighty differences which are 

 not molecular, and that there are none which are " molecular." 



Structurelessness of Living Hatter — Its Power. 



Let us, however, grant the existence of molecular structure 

 which cannot be demonstrated, but which may, perhaps, be dis- 

 covered at some future time. What will its advocates do with it ? 

 How will they explain by its aid the phenomena of movement, of 

 growth, of multiplication, of formation, exhibited by any living 



