have not rendered it incompetent to resume its old func- 

 tions as matter of life. A singular inward laboratory, 

 which I possess, will dissolve a certain portion of the 

 modified protoplasm, the solution so formed will pass 

 into my veins ; and the subtle influences to which it will 

 then be subjected will convert the dead protoplasm into 

 living protoplasm, and transubstantiate sheep into man. 

 Nor is this all. If digestion were a thing to be trifled 

 with, I might sup upon lobster, and the matter of life of 

 the crustacean would undergo the same wonderful meta- 

 morphosis into humanity. And were I to return to my 

 own place by sea, and undergo shipwreck, the Crustacea 

 might, and probably would, return the compliment, and 

 demonstrate our common nature by turning my proto- 

 plasm into living lobster. Or, if nothing better were to 

 be had, I might supply my wants with mere bread, and I 

 should find the protoplasm of the wheat-plant to be con- 

 vertible into man, with no more trouble than that of the 

 sheep, and with far less, I fancy, than that of the lobster. 

 Hence it appears to be a matter of no great moment what 

 animal, or what plant, I lay under contribution for proto- 

 plasm, and the fact speaks volumes for the general iden- 

 tity of that substance in all living beings. I share this 

 catholicity of assimilation with other animals, all of 

 which, so far as we know, could thrive equally well on the 

 protoplasm of any of their fellows, or of any plant; but 

 here the assimilative powers of the animal world cease. 

 A solution of smelling-salts in water with an infinites- 

 imal proportion of some other saline matters, contains 

 all the elementary bodies which enter into the composi- 

 tion of protoplasm ; but, as I need hardly say, a hogs- 



