LIVING MATTER. 33 



eny. This property will be considered more in detail in 

 the next chapter, on Parentage. 



8. The peculiar relations and changes of the chemical 

 elements in bioplasm prove it to possess some power 

 different from not-living matter, whose actions or results 

 no chemistry can predict. We have said that bioplasm 

 consists chejmically of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and 

 nitrogen. Other unessential elements may also be pres- 

 ent in some cases. But we cannot tell how these ele- 

 ments are combined, if, indeed, they are combined at all 

 in the proper sense of that word. As all bioplasm pre- 

 sents the same appearance, although differently formed 

 material results from its transformation different in 

 physical properties and in chemical composition as 

 muscle, nerve, bone, etc., it is probable that the ele- 

 ments do not combine at all as in inorganic matter, but 

 that the ordinary affinities are suspended or modified 

 by vitality. 



Bioplasm is a semi-fluid substance, yet it will not 

 freeze at 32 F., as water does, showing that in this re- 

 spect it is different from water. 



Bioplasm is in a state of constant molecular change, 

 or unstable equilibrium, since it is constantly receiving 

 pabulum and transforming itself into formed material, 

 so that it is doubtful if chemical combination is possible 

 during life, the atomic activities being too transitory for 

 combination. 



When change takes place from bioplasm into formed ma- 

 terial combination occurs, but the formed material is not 

 living tissue, or bioplasm. The life is gone. It is dead, 

 as if it had never formed part of an organism, although 



