THE METAMOKPHOSES OF MATTE K. 109 



perhaps warranted in arriving at the conclusion that a medium 

 weight of 22^- pounds is a fair carbon-estimate for every 

 human individual. Upon this assumption, the total weight 

 of carbon present in the bodies of living humanity amounts 

 to the astounding figure of 12,051,212 TONS ! 



So much, then, for the carbon of humanity. I am not 

 aware that any estimate has been made of the aggregate 

 weight of animated creation as contradistinguished from mere 

 humanity. Until a census be taken of fowls of the air and 

 fishes of the sea, animals of all sizes and degrees, from whales 

 and elephants to microscopic animalcules, one cannot even 

 approach the absolute in a speculation like this. But con- 

 sidering the teeming ocean with its giant cetacea, its fish, its 

 molluscs large and small, and all and every sprawling thing 

 which naturalists' drag-nets bring from the deep upwards ; 

 considering that the upper world has double vantage over 

 mere humanity, inasmuch as neither men, nor women, nor 

 children of either gender fly ; considering the beasts of the 

 field, wild and tame ; pondering on the animated masses, non- 

 human, of living flesh, shall I be deemed to have strained 

 a point in arriving at the conclusion, that the aggregate 

 weight of vitalised non-human carbon is double that already 

 eliminated as being the carbon-equivalent of living humanity? 

 More than 24,100,000 tons. Let us adopt that estimate, 

 and adopted, it will be seen to bear out the conclusion, that 

 the world's full complement of animated carbon, suddenly 

 dead and abandoned to dissolution, hither and thither dissi- 

 pated over the face of the globe, all that once solid mass 

 of once vitalised carbon will have to be sought for in other 

 forms of combination. You and I will have to die some day. 

 You and I will have to yield our carbon, no less than other 

 elements, back to the commonwealth of nature. Ashes to 

 ashes, dust to dust : thus is it written, and thus shall it be. 

 Yes, proud emperor, or you, fair lady, even unto you, and 

 this in despite of cere-cloths and lead coffins. 



