Scientific Sophisms. 139 



plasm varies almost infinitely in consistence, 

 in shape, in structure, and in function. 



" In consistence, it is sometimes so fluid as to be capa- 

 ble of forming in drops ; sometimes semi-fluid and 

 gelatinous ; sometimes of considerable resistance. __ In 

 shape for to Strieker the cells are now protoplasm we 

 have club-shaped protoplasm, globe-shaped protoplasm, 

 cup-shaped protoplasm, bottle-shaped protoplasm, spindle- 

 shaped protoplasm, branched, threaded, ciliated proto- 

 plasm, circle-headed protoplasm, flat, conical, cylindrical, 

 longitudinal, prismatic, polyhedral, and palisade-like 

 protoplasm. In structure, again, it is sometimes uniform 

 and sometimes reticulated into interspaces that contain 

 fluid. 



" In function, lastly, some protoplasm is vagrant, and of 

 unknown use. Some again produces pepsine, and some 

 fat. Some at least contain pigment. Then there is 

 nerve-protoplasm, brain-protoplasm, bone-protoplasm, 

 muscle-protoplasm, and protoplasm of all the other tissues, 

 no one of which but produces its own kind, and is uninter- 

 changeable with the rest. Lastly, on this head, we have 

 to point to the overwhelming fact that there is the in- 

 finitely different protoplasm of the various infinitely dif- 

 ferent plants and animals, in each of which its own proto- 

 plasm, as in the case of the various tissues, but produces 

 its own kind, and is uninterchangeable with that of the 

 rest." > 



The evidence in refutation of Mr. Huxley's 

 first proposition is thus seen to be overwhelm- 



p. 89.) Strieker : with whom, says Dr. Stirling, " for the 

 production of his ' Handbuch,' there is associated every 

 great histological name in Germany." (Pref., p. 3.) 

 1 M As Regards Protoplasm," pp. 30, 31. 



