80 VITALISM AND SCHOLASTICISM 



position and molecular structure with crystals 

 of inorganic origin, may exhibit, at the same 

 time, certain peculiarities which are due en- 

 tirely to the circumstances of their origin. . . . 

 The relation of the spicules to the structure 

 of the sponge shows that they have a definite 

 function to perform and an important part to 

 play in the economy of the organism which 

 produced them. . . . We may, therefore, sum 

 up in regard to the living crystals as follows 

 their composition is that of calcite crystals, 

 but their external form is that which the 

 sponge requires, and not that which they 

 would naturally assume. They furnish us, in 

 fact, with a beautiful instance of what is called 

 adaptation; that is to say, the fact that any 

 living organism tends to have just that form, 

 structure and organisation in all its parts which 

 it requires in order to maintain its existence 

 in its peculiar mode of life, whatever it may 

 be." 



Professor Joly, in an article entitled " The 

 Abundance of Life," makes the following im- 

 portant statements concerning this matter : * 

 66 It is necessary to observe on the fundamental 

 distinction between the growth of the proto- 

 plasm and the growth of the crystal. It is 



* The Birth Time of the World, Fisher Unwin, p. 74. 



