The Microscope. 135 



of matter by a name, he too often contemplates it with the stare of 

 stupidity, as he would a phantom from the spirit world, rather than 

 with the glance of inteUigence. And here let me say that though I 

 may give no new thing to the scientific world, and though men may 

 call my theory a delusion, yet if I succeed in directing their atten- 

 tion to a more careful investigation of this protoplasm I have not 

 written in vain. 



It is several years since protoplasm was named ; its first dis- 

 coveiy cannot well be traced, for no doubt men saw the substance 

 before they named it. 



That motion appeared to accompany protoplasm has been 

 admitted for years, but that living protoplasm was matter in ryth- 

 mic motion and dead protoplasm matter at rest, is scarce yet a 

 theory, although it has been surmised by a few advanced minds. 



The theory, as such I ofPer it, is, however, well nigh proven by 

 the movements of the diatomacese, and in fact l^y cyclosis, for I hold 

 the two to be identical in function, though not in environment ; for 

 whilst what we call cyclosis takes place in the interior of a cell, the 

 same function takes place on the exterior of the diatomacere. In the 

 former case the rythmic motion of the protoplasmic coating on the 

 inside of the walls drives the fluid that enters the internal spaces of 

 the cell in cui-rents hither and thither. In the latter the same ryth- 

 mic motion on the outside of the walls drives the fluid and small 

 particles that come in contact with the protoplasm along the walls, 

 and of course also induces a motion to the frustule when free. 



That all living diatoms are encased in protoplasm can be proven 

 beyond a doubt. Aniline green stains protoplasm blue, instantane- 

 ously, it may be said. This dye will stain no dead diatom shell, 

 but all living diatoms take the blue tint at once on coming in con- 

 tact with it. The stain also hardens protoplasm, hence the motion 

 is stopped at the instant of contact. Further, I have in many 

 cases seen the layer of blue, hardened protoplasm, slowly unwrap, 

 as it were, from the now dead frustule. I have even mounted the 

 ghost-like mantle, but have not succeeded in preserving it long. 

 When the protoplasmic layer first begins to spring away from the 

 walls of the frustule by virtue, I take it, of the elasticity acquired 

 by hardening, its form is suggestive of an insight into the ryth- 

 mic motion, for it first appears in very minute ridges, thus AAAAAAA. 

 These straighten out, and the mantle becomes much too ample for 

 the form it covered. The protoplasmic envelope is seldom entire. 

 In most cases it covers the valves in two bands, being deficient or 

 wanting on the hoop and median line in the navicula forms. I 



