108 ON THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE 



which is, conceivably, expressible by the number of 

 grains of protoplasm and other bodily substance wasted 

 in maintaining my vital processes during its delivery. 

 My peau de chagrin will be distinctly smaller at the end 

 of the discourse than it was at the beginning. By and 

 by, I shall probably have recourse to the substance 

 commonly called mutton, for the purpose of stretching 

 it back to its original size. Now this mutton was once 

 the living protoplasm, more or less modified, of another 

 animal a sheep. As I shall eat it, it is the same mat- 

 ter altered, not only by death, but by exposure to sundry 

 artificial operations in the process of cooking. 



But these changes, whatever be their extent, have not 

 rendered it incompetent to resume its old functions as 

 matter of life. A singular inward laboratory, which I 

 possess, will dissolve a certain portion of the modified 

 protoplasm; the solution so formed will pass into my 

 veins ; and the subtle influences to which it will then be 

 subjected will convert the dead protoplasm into living 

 protoplasm, and transubstantiate sheep into man. 



Nor is this all. If digestion were a thing to be trifled 

 with, I might sup upon lobster, and the matter of life 

 of the crustacean would undergo the same wonderful 

 metamorphosis into humanity. And were I to return 

 to my own place by sea, and undergo shipwreck, the 

 crustacean might, and probably would, return the com- 

 pliment, and demonstrate our common nature by turn- 

 ing my protoplasm into living lobster. Or, if nothing 

 better were to be had, I might supply my wants with 

 mere bread, and I should find the protoplasm of the 

 wheat-plant to be convertible into man, with no more 

 trouble than that of the sheep, and with far less, I 

 fancy, than that of the lobster. 



Hence it appears to be a matter of no great moment 



