PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE. 



better informed concerning the anatomy and physiology of 

 that as well as other organisms. Mr. Huxley seems to have 

 found out that nettles, like men, arise in masses of 

 " nucleated protoplasm," and he strongly advises his critic, 

 whom he calls an Hegelian, to provide himself with " a 

 nettle and a microscope ! "* 



Professor Huxley has no doubt led some of the readers 

 of the " Contemporary " to believe not only that Dr. Stirling 

 has been completely answered but thoroughly set down; 

 but possibly others may not feel quite so satisfied upon this 

 head, and will be more inclined to agree with Sir John 

 Herschel that Dr. Stirling's essay is "complete and final" as 

 a refutation of the philosophy of the Physical Basis of Life. 

 But the discussion is by no means worn out. There is very 

 much more to be advanced against the reception of the 



* This is not the place to enter into the personal part of this con- 

 troversy. Dr. Stirling is well able to take care of himself. I am not 

 disposed to discuss how many of Mr. Huxley's ideas upon this proto- 

 plasm are his own, and how many have been taken from the writings of 

 Briicke, Kiihne, Max Schultze, and others. Any one desirous of studying 

 the alterations which have taken place in Mr. Huxley's views concerning 

 the nature of the cell, and the formation of tissues, can do so without 

 difficulty by referring to his memoirs. To save trouble to any enquirers 

 who may be historically interested in the matter, I will direct attention 

 to four memoirs, the titles of which are given below in the order of their 

 appearance. 



"The Cell Theory," by T. H. Huxley. Med. Chir. Rev., October, 



1853- 



"On the Structure of the Simple Tissues of the Human Body." 

 L. S. Beale. Lectures at the Royal College of Physicians, April and 

 May, 1 86 1. Translated by Prof. Victor Carus. Leipzig, 1862. 



" Das Protoplasma der Rhizopoden und der Pflanzen zellen." Max 

 Schultze, 1863. 



" Untersuchungen iiber das Protoplasma und die Contractilitat." 

 Kiihne. Leipzig, 1864. 



I 2 



