344 



quite differently in a second molecular pellicle produced by 

 the disintegration of the bacteria of the first. The molecules 

 aggregate into these masses, standing out sharply on a lighter 

 ground (Fig. 4). The " spores of fungi " figured by Dr. 

 Bastian in their mode of origin have a very considerable 

 resemblance to the " unicellular organisms," differing only 

 in the segmentation occurring more than once. More definite 

 conclusions might have been arrived at about them if their 

 mentioned production of " ordinary mycelial filaments " had 

 been figured as well.^ 



Results like these, and those of Pouchet, which involve the 

 origination of the most varied forms, in reality prove too much. 

 Granting that the vital phenomena of the simplest living things 

 are purely physical consequences of their material composition, 

 it is still a priori incomprehensible that uniform conditions 

 should produce so many diverse and definite specific sliapes, 

 since evolution can only conceive of these arising very 

 gradually in response to a varied environment. Colrviction 

 in science, as in other matters, results from a balancing of 

 probabilities. To an evolutionist it is much more probable 

 that different specific forms should be genetically related to 

 series of such forms from Avhich they have derived their 

 gradually accumulated distinctive characters, than that they 

 should, within a very short space of time, originate from 

 quite formless matter, Mr. Spencer remarks : " If there can 

 suddenly be imposed on simple protoplasm the organization 

 which constitutes it a Paramcecinm, 1 see no reason why 

 animals of greater complexity, or, indeed of any complexity, 

 may not be constituted after the same manner."- And a 

 vitalist like Dr. Beale uses language wdiich is little different 

 when he states that he " should as soon think of believing in 

 the direct formation from lifeless matter of an oak, a butter- 

 fly, a mouse, nay, man himself, as in that of an amoeba or a 

 bacterium."^ 



The analogy between the origin of crystals and the de noco 

 origin of living things which Dr. Bastian presses so strongly, 

 might have some force if Ave were quite as much in the dark 

 about the absolute beginning of all living as of all crystalline 

 forms. But a belief that specific form is inherited rests on 

 too wide a basis of facts not to afford the very strongest pre- 

 sumption that it is true in the case of any and every living 



^ The bodies represented by fig. 7 b, the 'flatleued bits of protoplasmic- 

 lookinpj material' of Exp. 4, and the protoplasmic-looking masses of Exps. 

 9 and 12, are probably to be referred to the ' unicellular organisms.' 



2 ' Principles of Biology,' vol. i, Ap[)., p. 480. 



^ 'Disease Germs,' p. 59. The italics are not Dr. Bcale's. 



