Trans; N; V. Ac. Scz. _ 44 Nov. 21; 
the scourges of humanity, cancer and tubercle, it will be through such 
researches. But he thought that much of the discussion which had 
been excited by these investigations had been irrelevant and confusing, 
especially that in regard to the seat and nature of life, into which 
microscopists and chemists had entered with great earnestness and 
some acrimony, but with no satisfactory result. In this discussion 
some writers had made the ultimate cell the seat of life, and had 
glorified and almost deified it. Others claimed that the cells were only 
portions of a general vitalized and automatic tissue; while others still 
contended that the phenomena of vitality were the mere manifestations 
of chemical changes taking place in structure otherwise lifeless. 
With none of these views could he sympathize, as there had really 
been no approach to an end in the effort to localize or analyze life. 
Unless we accept the materialistic theory of spontaneous generation, 
advocated by Dr. Bastian, but rejected by most biologists, we must 
confess that no more is now known of the origin, nature and seat of life 
than was known to Aristotle. All we have done is to acquire a better 
knowledge of the #zachznery by which the functions of life are accom- 
plished; most important knowledge truly, since it enables us to dis- 
tinguish between normal and morbid life action in the tissues where this 
action begins, and promises to point the way for promoting the one, and 
preventing the other—but limited to the methods in which the life force 
acts, not reaching the inscrutable and intangible force itself. 
The work done by a microscopic cell is wonderful and incomprehen- 
sible to us, yet all cells work not as independent individuals, but as 
members of a community, and for a common end. For example, the 
terminal cell of the fibril of a plant root is a delicate vesicle—the cell in 
its simplest form, and yet when new born, and having existed but the 
fraction of a minute, it begins its special work of supplying certain food 
elements to the plant above; and this it does with a discrimination 
which is infallible. Water it absorbs by endosmosis, and, when deficient, 
begets progeny to send for it. It also appropriates other things that 
are necessary to the growth of the plant to which it belongs, whatever 
that be; if tobacco, an unusual quantity of potash; if grass, of silica. 
It always works to a pattern determined by the character of the plant 
whose general economy it serves, and is controlled by the influence 
which gives to that plant its special and recognizable leaf, flower and 
fruit, its noxious or alimentary qualities. So in all other parts of the 
structure the cell is doing its allotted work in a community of which it 
forms an integral part. It is therefore in no sense an independent indi- 
vidual. Our notions of what constitutes an individual or a community 
may seem to us quite clear, but they are in fact likely to be somewhat 
confused. Every man recognizes and asserts his own individuality, but 
