ON THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE 103 



for the purpose of stretching it back to its original size. 

 Now this mutton was once the living protoplasm^ more or 

 less modified, of another animal — a sheep. As I shall eat 

 it, it is the same matter altered, not only by death, but by 

 exposure to sundry artificial operations in the process of 

 cooking. 



But these changes, whatever be their extent, have not 

 rendered it incompetent to resume its old functions as mat- 

 ter of life. A singular inward laboratory, which I possess, 

 will dissolve a certain portion of the modified protoplasm; 

 the solution so formed will pass into my veins; and the 

 subtle influences to which it will then be subjected will con- 

 vert the dead protoplasm into living protoplasm, and tran- 

 substantiate sheep into man. 



Nor is this all. If digestion were a thing to be trifled 

 with, I might sup upon lobster, and the matter of life of 

 the crustacean would undergo the same w^onderful meta- 

 morphosis into humanity. And were I to return to my own 

 place by sea, and undergo shipwreck, the crustacean might, 

 and probably would, return the compliment, and demon- 

 strate our common nature by turning my protoplasm into 

 living lobster. Or, if nothing better were to be had, I might 

 supply my wants, with mere bread, and I should find the 

 protoplasm of the wheat-plant to be convertible into man 

 with no more trouble than that of the sheep, and with far 

 less, I fancy, than that of the lobster. 



Hence it appears to be a matter of no great moment 

 what animal, or what plant, I lay under contribution for 

 protoplasm, and the fact speaks volumes for the general 

 identity of that substance in all living beings. I share this 

 catholicity of assimilation with other animals, all of which, 

 so far as we know, could thrive equally well on the proto- 

 plasm of any of their fellows, or of any plant; but here the 



