93 ( 20 ) 



meastire goes with protoplasm to constitute it an organ- 

 ism to them, and worthy of their attention. They re- 

 fuse to give consideration to any mere protoplasm-j/zra/ 

 that may not have yet ceased, perhaps, to exhibit all 

 sign of contractility under the microscope, and demand 

 a protoplasm-^//. In short, protoplasm is to them still 

 distributed into cells, and only that measure of proto- 

 plasm is cell that is adequate to the whole group of 

 vital manifestations. Briicke, for example, of all inno- 

 vators probably the most innovating, and denying, or 

 inclined to deny, both nucleus and membrane, does not 

 hesitate, according to Strieker, to speak still of cells as 

 self-complete organisms, that move and grow, that nour- 

 ish and reproduce themselves, and that perform specific 

 function. " Omnis cellula e cellula," is the rubric they 

 work under as much now as ever. The heart of a turtle, 

 they say, is not a turtle ; so neither is a protoplasm- 

 shred a protoplasm-cell. 



This, then, is the general consideration which I think 

 it necessary to premise ; and it seems, almost of itself, 

 to negate Mr. Huxley's reasonings in advance, for it 

 warrants us in denying that physiological clay of which 

 all living things are but bricks baked, Mr. Huxley inti- 

 mates, and in establishing in its place cells as before 

 living cells that differ infinitely the one from the other, 

 and so differ from the very first moment of their exist- 

 ence. This consideration shall not be allowed to pre- 

 termit, however, an examination of Mr. Huxley's own 

 proofs, which will only the more and more avail to indi- 

 cate the difference suggested. 



These proofs, as has been said, would, by means of 

 the single fulcrum of protoplasm, establish, first, the 

 identity, and, second, the materiality, of all vegetable 



