272 A few Remarks on Dr. Bastian’s [Monin wow ro 
such as starch granules and pieces of linen fibre, much larger than 
the monad forms or “specks,” of which there were a great number. 
I have also grown Leptothrix threads, and watched the crystals 
bifurcate upon and enclose them. I have also seen the crystals 
assume a curved direction, without the use of gum, by some appa- 
rent obstacle to the straight line of its usual course. But we 
know of no case in which the phenomena which we designate by 
the collective term “life” or “living” have been assimilated, and 
evidence seems to point to the opinion that these phenomena are 
only developed in a communicable succession, not capable of being 
generated “de novo.” There must be a unit of the primordial 
Monad, whether as the starting-point of the Leptothrix filament, the 
“pin point” Monad, or any other early form of development which 
evinces the phenomena of “life” assimilation and growth within 
the germinal membrane or primordial utricle,* and reproduction of 
its like by segmentation, gemmation, or spores; and neither the 
curved crystal of Rainey, nor the isomeric change of cyanate of 
ammonia to urea, will afford us any explanation of the development 
of these phenomena. 
There is in the homologous condition of the cells of the more 
visible unicellular Alge a foreshadowing of a law of cell develop- 
ment, which seems to extend to all vitalized molecules, from the 
Monad in the proligerous pellicle to the highest development of 
brain cells in the human mammal, mainly characterized by bilateral 
segmentation ; this is well seen in the transparent Paramcecium (see 
M. M. J., Jan., 1870, Art. V., p. 29, Obs. July 25th), in the cells 
of Chlorococcus, and in the gleocapsoid state exemplifies what may 
take place all through the series producing double, quadruple, and 
multilocular cells of 8, 16, 32, &., going on to form a Psendo- 
gonidium, the original change taking place by binary segmentation 
of the primordial utricle of each cell, followed by the same changes 
in each of the segments, and repeated in their sub-segments until a 
bursting of the sarcode liberates them for individual existence. 
Under some circumstances, at present undetermined, the cells 
early assume an ovoid shape, and in this case the bilateral segmenta- 
tion produces vacuoles, from the centre of which masses of protoplasm 
arise. This may be seen in the examination of Palmella cruenta, 
Oscillatoria, and Lyngbya. 
The nucleus theory of development will not account for the 
division of non-nucleated cells ; moreover, there is reason to think 
many of the so-called nuclei are only contractions of cell wall (see 
M. M. J., Aug. 1869, Art. VIL, p. 103, Obs. April 15, 1868; and 
Jan., 1870, p. 29. Of Paramecium, Obs. May 9, 1869, July 25). 
Reasoning by analogy, the change may be expected just as much 
in the living speck or invisible germ as in the perfectly visible cells 
* See Beale, ‘ Protoplasm,’ p. 78. 
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