FORCE AND FORM. 27 



genes," and by careful evaporation he might obtain two 

 extracts not distinguishable from one another. Both would 

 exhibit a " finely granular character," and thus the important 

 fact that there was no difference whatever between the 

 inanimate albumen and the inanimate " protogenes " would 

 be demonstrated. And as every one is now prepared to 

 admit that there is no difference between dead "proto- 

 genes" and living "protogenes," we must of course accept 

 the conclusion that the lowest forms of life are but forms of 

 albumen. In this way " the chasm between the inorganic 

 and the organic is being filled up ! " 



"Properties" of Matter. Here are some specimens 

 of the dogmatic assertions which have been advanced 

 in place of facts and arguments in favour of the physico- 

 chemical doctrines. "The difference between a crystal 

 of calcspar and amorphous carbonate of lime corre- 

 sponds to the difference between living matter and the 

 matter which results from its death. Just as by chemical 

 analysis we learn the composition of calc spar, so by 

 chemical analysis we ascertain the composition of living 

 matter. It is not probable that there is any real differ- 

 ence in the nature of the molecular forces which compel 

 the carbonate of lime to assume and retain the crystalline 

 form, and those which cause the albuminoid matter to move 

 and grow, select and form and maintain its particles in a 

 state of incessant motion. The property of crystallising is 

 to crystallisable matter what the vital property is to albu- 

 minoid matter (protoplasm). The crystalline form corre- 

 sponds to the organic form, and its internal structure to tissue 

 structure. Crystalline force being a property of matter, 



