146 The Living Plant 



and which units in this case are the molecules, and just as the 

 chemical properties are supposed to reside in their ultimate units, 

 in this case the atoms, so the vital properties must be supposed 

 to reside in some kind of units distinctively their own. These 

 units, obviously, must be larger than the molecules and made up 

 of organized aggregates thereof. They have been called by various 

 names, notably plasomen, (in the singular, plasom), and are 

 probably identical with the micellae of which we shall have much 

 to say in the chapter on Absorption. All substances are made up 

 of atoms and molecules; protoplasm alone is made up of atoms, 

 molecules and plasomen. And the reader will observe, by the 

 way, that the very conception of the plasom involves the idea of a 

 distinctive protoplasmic main substance, and constitutes indeed, 

 an additional reason for believing in the existence thereof. 



As one views the various physical features of protoplasm, and 

 thinks of the remarkable things it can do, he cannot but wonder 

 at the discrepancy between its aspect and its accomplishments. 

 For protoplasm is one of the most insignificant in appearance 

 of all substances, yet secures the most wonderful of all results. 

 For has it not built the whole plant and animal world, culminating 

 in man with his powers of thought? Yet this discrepancy be- 

 tween promise and performance is not without parallel in our 

 human experience. If some stranger from far away space, where 

 all things are differently done, were to visit this earth and be 

 shown the multifarious works of man's hands, and were after- 

 wards to have man pointed out as their maker, he would doubtless 

 exclaim in astonishment; "How can a creature so small build 

 these cloud-cleaving towers a hundred times loftier than himself, 

 or these huge leviathans of steamships ten thousand times bigger 

 than he : or how can a thing so weak raise pyramids so ponderously 

 colossal: or one so slow of foot drive such fleet-flying engines: 

 or one with hands so soft bore tunnels through miles of solid 

 rock?" Man gives no suggestion in his appearance of the nature 

 of the power whereby he does these things, for that lies not in 



