MODERN SCIENCE. 133 



(medusa), rudimentary indications of organs similar to those 

 we possess : traces of a nervous system, rudiments of eyes, and 

 (f sacs of mineral particles " supposed to be a rude hearing 

 apparatus. From such beginnings has the law of evolution 

 brought about all the alterations and complications which can 

 be seen in the organic world. 



180072. Pouchet enunciated the fundamental LAW OF 

 FECUNDATION in mammals ; endeavoured to prove the theory 

 of spontaneous generation but counter experiments carried 

 on by other biologists showed that what might be taken for 

 spontaneous generation was nothing but the hatching of 

 microscopic germs. 



1801 1872. Von Mohl (Hugo) by his study of the 

 anatomy and physiology of plants, especially in relation to the 

 pores of their tissue and the existence of vegetal cells, became 

 next to Oken the originator of the theory of PROTOPLASM a 

 new area of research. We are entirely indebted to the micro- 

 scope for this very important addition to knowledge. Much, 

 as regards the structure of cells, tissues, fibres of plants, was 

 already known as we have seen, when Von Mohl discovered, 

 in 1853, th e primitive form of living matter in other words, 

 life in its most elementary condition and this matter, he 

 showed, enters into the composition of a cell, and circulates 

 therein with marvellous activity. It is also present in the 

 embryo-sac. And being the simplest form of life known the 

 clay out of which bodies are formed the discoverer called it 

 protoplasm (first formative material). Chemically it is a 

 compound of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, which 

 is manufactured by the plant out of the soil, air, water, sun- 

 heat and light. Thus plants draw directly from chemicals 

 both food and life ; some animals feed on plants that is, on 

 the same chemicals prepared for them by the plants as other 

 animals, ourselves included, partly feed on vegetable-feeders 

 that is, on the same chemicals again, further assimilated and 

 prepared as suitable nourishment. Reversing the description 

 roughly, we might say: Man feeds on chemicals turned first 

 into plants, then into ox-flesh. Protoplasm is therefore the 

 most primitive form of life on the one hand, and the material 

 out of which all living bodies are principally supported on the 



