140 Protoplasm. 



ing. In view of the nature of microscopic 

 science ; in view of the results hitherto obtained 

 as regards nucleus, membrane, and entire cell , 

 even in- view of the supporters of protoplasm 

 itself; Mr. Huxley's assertion of a physical 

 matter of life is untenable. 1 But even if that 

 " matter of life " were granted, the reasons in- 

 numerable, and even irrefragable, would still 

 remain to compel us as now they do actually 

 compel us to acknowledge in it, not indeed the 

 " identity " now claimed, but rather " an infinite 

 diversity " in power, in form, and in substance. 

 No wonder that the bricks are not the same : 

 with this "infinite diversity" in the clay. 



II. Nor is this fundamental diversity in any 

 way altered or diminished by the. convertibility 

 of which Mr. Huxley speaks. On the contrary, 

 that convertibility, as alleged by Mr. Huxley, 



1 The position here maintained in. opposition to 

 Mr. Huxley is supported by an important dictum of 

 Professor Tyndall : " When the contents of a cell are de- 

 scribed as perfectly homogeneous, as absolutely structure- 

 less, because the microscope fails to distinguish any 

 structure, then I think the microscope begins to play a 

 mischievous part. A little consideration will make it 

 plain to all of you that the microscope can have no voice 

 in the real question of germ structure." Fragments of 

 Science: First Edition, p. 155. 



