280 CONVERSION OF NON-LIVING INTO LIVING 



wonderful, well worthy of being contemplated. Although 

 the change is without a moment's intermission ever proceed- 

 ing under our eyes, we are unable to form any clear concep- 

 tion of what actually happens to the matter as it is changed. 

 We know that the nutrient matter makes its way to the very 

 centre of the living particles, and that it there becomes 

 changed. Certain of its elements are re-arranged, and the 

 material particles immediately acquire powers they never 

 possessed before. Then begins a series of orderly changes 

 very .wonderful. During the time that the matter lives, its 

 elements are probably arranged and re-arranged many times, 

 the proportion of some being reduced and that of others 

 increased, so as to prepare for the formation of molecules 

 of great complexity as regards arrangement, though com- 

 posed of very few elements. 



The question of the arrangement and form of the atoms 

 in living matter can at present only be discussed theoreti- 

 cally ; and I would now merely remark with reference to 

 this subject, that although all living particles are of complex 

 composition, many different elements may exist in very 

 different proportions in living matter. It is not possible to 

 see, with the highest powers now made, particles of living 

 matter which would in all probability be demonstrable by 

 more perfect glasses. But there is reason to think that we 

 shall ever fail to see the actual particles, which are the seat 

 of change, in consequence not only of their minute size, 

 but on account of their extreme tenuity and transparency. 

 There must, indeed, be centres far more central than the 

 most minute spots which can be rendered evident to the 

 senses. It is not possible to conceive an actual centre. 

 The most minute molecule must be compound to its very 



