Scientific Sophisms. 131 



chemical analysis of dead protoplasm cannot 

 be regarded as decisive for that which is not 

 dead. And yet, throughout his whole argument, 

 he builds on this same chemical analysis as 

 if it were decisive. Thus he speaks of mutton 

 as "once the living protoplasm," now the 

 " same matter altered by death " and cookery, 

 but yet as not being by these alterations ren- 

 dered "incompetent to resume its old functions 

 as matter of life." 1 He speaks of its being 

 subjected to " subtle influences " which " will 

 convert the dead protoplasm into the living 

 protoplasm " which will " raise the complex 

 substance of dead protoplasm to the higher 

 power, as one may say, of living protoplasm." 3 

 In all this, as throughout, when he speaks of 

 dead matter of life and living matter of life, 

 not only is there no hint of any difference in 

 chemical constitution, or in " arrangement of 

 molecules," between the dead and the living, 

 but when, in anticipation of such difference, 

 he alludes to it at all, it is only to pronounce 

 it "frivolous." 8 



So be it. Let the identity of protoplasm, 

 "living or dead," as assumed by Mr. Huxley, 



1 Fortnightly Review, February, 1869, P- I 37 



* Ibid., p. 138. 



Ibid., p. 135- 



