The Evolution of the Sciences 



form and highly magnified, but it moves, it 

 changes its place and its form like a monad or 

 an amoeba. And Professor de Herrera of 

 Mexico, by modifying Biitschli's experiments, 

 comes to the conclusion that most of the physi- 

 cal properties of protoplasm can be imitated 

 with alkaline oleates or soaps/' 



We must not misrepresent the trend of these 

 experiments. Their authors had no intention, 

 by such methods, of bringing about the 

 synthesis of living matter. These imitations 

 are neither mere playthings, nor are they pre- 

 tentious attempts to create living beings. They 

 are only intended to determine the part played 

 in living matter by the different physico- 

 chemical forces. 



Of all these factors of life none appear 

 more important than diffusion. The bean, which 

 remains inert as long as it is dry, only coni- 

 mences to germinate when the water, which 

 causes it to swell, gives rise in its substance to 

 differences of concentration and sets in action 

 the forces of diffusion and osmosis. 



Let us explain what these phenomena con- 

 sist in. If we pour some water into a tumbler 



270 



