Its Origin and Composition. 3 



"vortex of substances a vortex constantly sucking in fresh ma- 

 "terial and as constantly throwing- off the old. To attempt to 

 " analyse it is hopeless, but when its metabolism is destroyed 

 "when it is no longer protoplasm it is found that the most 

 "abundant solid present belongs to the group of proteids." This 

 means that it is not a homogeneous substance, as, for instance, 

 lime, marble, water, carbon dioxide, &c., but a mixture of proteids 

 of different molecular composition, and that the molecules of these 

 proteids are in constant vortical or whirling motion, similar to that 

 of the rings which come from a smoker's pipe or lips. The 

 attempt to analyse it is hopeless : ist, because it is impossible to 

 do so while it is in a so-called living state, that is, in the cells of a 

 living organism, as the first attempt at analysis kills it, and its 

 constitution and composition almost instantly change ; 2nd, because 

 in some cells, especially when young, it may contain little else but 

 proteids, and in others which are older and more differentiated 

 there are mixed with it in varying proportions cell-sap and food 

 matters such as starch, sugar and amides ; and, 3rd, because of 

 its great complexity and the large and varying number of atoms 

 which compose the molecules of which it is made up. Even in 

 what might be considered the same substance it is found that when 

 taken from different species the number of atoms in a molecule is 

 very various. Thus, in a molecule of the haematoglobin taken 

 from the blood of one animal the number of atoms was 1894, 

 and in that taken from another there were 2304. 



The elements that compose protoplasm are Carbon, Hydrogen, 

 Oxygen, and Nitrogen, with some Sulphur and, in certain cases, 

 Phosphorus, which in themselves and in inorganic compounds are 

 lifeless. All plants, except fungi and parasites, take in these 

 elements by their leaves from the air in the form of gas, and by 

 their roots from the soil as mineral solutions. In the cells of 

 plants the compounds absorbed are decomposed, and the elements 

 again built up into other substances which can be made use of for 

 growth, and this metabolism is undoubtedly brought about by 

 chemical and electrical action. Animals, fungi, and parasites do 

 not and cannot form food from inorganic materials ; herbiverous 

 animals eating vegetables, and those that are carnivorous devour- 

 ing other animals, while some fungi and parasites feed on decaying 



