IN HEALTH. 97 



propriating them as nutrient materials. They increase 

 in number in a very simple manner. If one of the 

 protrusions above referred to be detached, artificially 

 or by accident, a new and independent organism 

 results. So long as a pedicle remains between the 

 two, though it be so thin as to be only just visible, the 

 diverticulum may be withdrawn, and the whole form 

 one single spherical mass of living, growing, moving 

 matter. But if the communication be once completely 

 severed two separate beings result, and these can 

 never again be incorporated so as to form but one. 



Any one can study for himself the most im- 

 portant of the highly interesting phenomena which 

 have been observed in these wonderful and simple 

 organisms. Amoebae can be readily obtained from 

 water which has been left for a few days in a warm 

 light room. Their growth can be watched from day 

 to day, and their movements can be seen without 

 difficulty. With the aid of high powers it will be 

 found that the moving material is clear, transparent, 

 and as far as we are able to discover, destitute of 

 structure, exhibiting no appearance which could be 

 reasonably supposed to be due to the presence of 

 " molecular " or any kind of " machinery." It ap- 

 pears like homogeneous matter of syrupy consistence 

 which moves in all directions. No one has been able 

 to offer anything like an explanation of these move- 

 ments although every one can see and study them 

 without difficulty. Authorities have expressed them- 



