August, 1904.] 



KNOWLEDGE c<^ SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



183 



and P. Pirenne in the Revue Sciciitifique, of the hypo- 

 thesis that crystals have a kind of life, of a lower grade 

 than that of plants, but still real life. These writers 

 found tlieir theories on phenomena observed under a 

 microscope during the growth of a crystal from a 

 solution. These phenomena have several features in 

 common with the growth of a living cell. 



^M-:-^i' 



\ 



-J' 









Salicylic Acid in Precr>stalline state, stiouinjr birth of multi- 

 polar cellules resembling nerve cells. linlarj^ement, 2'Su. 



If we dissolve salt in water until the liquid is 

 saturated and then modify the conditions by lowering 

 the temperature, we see crystals of the dissolved salt 

 appear. The process apparently simple, and depend- 

 ent on easily-stated chemical and physical laws, ap- 

 pears none the less to originate in a series of 



Lsrge Petro-cellule uf Quartz, showing two protoplasmic sub- 

 stances, and nuclear petroblast. Enlargement, 750. 



phenomena that have a remarkable similarity to vital 

 phenomena. .■\ccording to MM. di Brazza and 

 l^irenne : "At the beginning of the crystallisation a 

 tiny globule is seen to be differentiated from the uni- 

 form mass, being easily recognisable on account of its 

 difference in refractive power. Studied closely, this 

 globule shows within it a slight ' petroplasmic net- 



work,' which shows an analogy with the formation of 



animal and vegetable lells 



"Then are seen appearing in the lulwnrk sni.ill ob- 

 scure points called ' [JotrobLists, ' uliicli, wlu-n (ilis<i\i(l 

 under high magnilying power, srcni t(i he at llu- rviilrc 

 of a dark substance c;ilk-d ' dculcrolillioplasni,' and on 

 the periphery of another cIcaitT sulislanrc nanu-d bv 

 \'on Schron ' prulolitlioiilasm. ' I lie lunn.itiDn nl Ihr 

 crystal results from these two substaiu-es. . . Crystals 

 have different origins, but . . . the pefropl.ismic kind 

 is bv far the most coniinon. In the stiifc l)f1\M'iii the 

 two substances constitiiling the petroblast, the globule 

 changes form by an annulai' enl.irgenieni ; the rins; then 

 is deformed and ,111 angle is iormed \\lii<h I'rcjlessor 

 von Schron calls the ' priniilix e doiuinaiil anisic,' be- 

 cause it gives the direction ol llie lutm'e civstal. .Soon 

 a second angle lornis cjpposile the first, called llie 

 'diagonal angle' MnalU llu- meeting-points of llie.se 

 two opposed angles lorm new .•ingles c.illed 'second- 

 ary.' 



llie ervstal, u liose loiin.ilive phases \\i- li.i\e llms 

 stuilied, can move about, .ind also presents the 



Salicylic Acid in Precrystalline state, shuwini^ numerous 

 petrublasts with nuclei, linlargement, '>io. 



peculiarity of being .able to reproduce ilsell in lliii'C 

 ways — by division, genirnation, and endugeny. 



" I. By division. II we take, in special condi- 

 tions, a crystal of recent formation, we shall see it 

 separate into two individuals which draw apart with a 

 rotatory movement. 



" 2. By gemmation. The phenomenon takes jikice 

 ill the following manner : the petroblasts develop, reach 

 the surface of the crystal, continue to deyelo[), and are 

 detached, causing waves around the crystal. 



" 3. By endogeny, the most originjil case. A little 

 crystal forms inside the mother crystal, comes to the 

 surface and issues from it with a double movement oi 

 [jrogression and rotation. 



" Life in crystals can be explained by the struggle 

 for existence, which is ardent even here. In f.ict, if 

 during their growth two crystals come into contact, 

 the weaker will completely disappear, absorbed by the 

 stronger. . . . The crystal seems actually to be ;i 

 living being, and, as we have said, it should have its 

 special pathology. This is really the case, according 

 to Von Schron, who has discovered fifteen kinds of 

 disease in crystals, some of which are hereditary — cases 

 of bifurcation, torsion, and erosion, which are confirina- 



