126 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



found and complex changes have occurred. First of 

 all, the particles of water have been rendered diamag- 

 netically polar; and secondly, in virtue of the structure 

 impressed upon it by the magnetic whirl of its mole- 

 cules, the liquid twists a ray of light in a fashion per- 

 fectly determinate both as to quantity and direction. 



Have the diamond, the amethyst, and the countless 

 other crystals formed in the laboratories of nature and 

 of man no structure? Assuredly they have; but what 

 can the microscope make of it? Nothing. It cannot 

 be too distinctly borne in mind that between the micro- 

 scopic limit, and the true molecular limit, there is room 

 for infinite permutations anjd combinations. It is in 

 this region that the poles of the atoms are arranged, 

 that tendency is given to their powers; so that when 

 these poles and powers have free action, proper stimu- 

 lus, and a suitable environment, they determine, first 

 the germ, and afterwards the complete organism. This 

 first marshalling of the atoms, on which all subsequent 

 action depends, baffles a keener power than that of the 

 microscope. When duly pondered, the complexity of 

 the problem raises the doubt, not of the power of our 

 instrument, for that is m7,but whether we ourselves pos- 

 sess the intellectual elements which will ever enable us to 

 grapple with the ultimate structural energies of nature.* 

 In more senses than one Mr. Darwin has drawn 

 heavily upon the scientific tolerance of his age. He 

 has drawn heavily upon time in his development of 



* ' In using the expression " one sort of living substance " I 

 must guard against being supposed to mean that any kind of 

 living protoplasm is homogeneous. Hyaline though it may ap- 

 pear, we are not at present able to assign any limit to its com- 

 plexity of structure.' Burdon Sanderson, in the ' British Med- 

 ical Journal,' January 16, 1875. 



We have here scientific insight, and its correlative caution. 

 In fact Dr. Sanderson's important researches are a continued il- 

 lustration of the position laid down above. 



