1 34 Protoplasm. 



a compound of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, 

 and nitrogen) are clearly analogous. -So far 

 as it is on chemical and physical structure 

 that the possession of distinctive properties 

 in any case depends, both bodies may be said 

 to be on a par. So far the analogy must be 

 allowed to hold ; so far, but no farther. " One 

 step farther, and we see not only that 

 protoplasm has, like water, a chemical and 

 physical structure ; but that, unlike water, it 

 has also an organised or organic structure. 

 Now this, on the part of protoplasm, is a 

 possession in excess ; and with relation to that 

 excess there can be no grounds for analogy." 

 When therefore Mr. Huxley says, " If the 

 phenomena exhibited by water are its properties, 

 so are those presented by protoplasm, living 

 or dead, its properties," the answer is, " Living 

 or dead ? " organic or inorganic ? That alter- 

 native is simply slipped in and passed ; but it 

 is in that alternative that the whole matter 

 lies. Chemically, dead protoplasm is to Mr. 

 Huxley quite as good as living protoplasm. 

 It is this dead protoplasm which he finds so 

 delectable in the shape of bread, lobster, 

 mutton. But then it is to be remembered that 

 it is only these as being inorganic that can 

 be placed on the same level as water ; while 



