EVIDENCE PROVING THE STATEMENT OF THE CASE 79 



Cells are plastic. It is not pretended that the envelope 

 consists of only one layer of molecules. We can never 

 exactly solve the problem of the arrangement of the 

 individual molecules, because, as we have stated, the 

 molecule in the solid or liquid condition is an object 

 so minute as to be beyond the highest powers of the 

 most observant eye or even the most powerful micro- 

 scope. This cell-envelope may be of any conceivable 

 form, except the rigid forms found in geometrical science. 

 Nature abhors the rigid. But the typical form of the 

 cell may be taken as more or less spheroidal. Inside 

 this envelope is a living substance, called by the 

 specialist protoplasm, and inside this there is seen, 

 generally in the centre of the mass, an object which 

 specialists call a nucleus. This object varies in structure 

 from time to time. Inside this nucleus there are now 

 recognized structures of bewildering complexity, and 

 there may appear yet another object, which is called 

 by the specialist a nucleolus. We need not let the 

 mind rest on these technical terms. What we want 

 to do is to grasp the fact. 



There is no hard and fast line in the structure of these 

 minute individuals. But we are now going to draw 

 attention to this important fact, that the centre of force 

 would appear to be in the central object the nucleolus. 

 This nucleolus is a highly organized complex object. 

 Now we have demonstrated the selective capacity of 

 atomic matter. Regard this centre, the nucleolus, as 

 consisting of a mass of molecules (each of which is a 

 huge compound of atoms), molecules of unlike nature, 

 grouped together : and carry the mind one step further, 

 this grouping is formed and controlled by one molecule, 

 which molecule is formed and controlled by one atom. 



