208 THE VITAL POWER OF THE BIOPLASM. 



we must bear in mind that tiie very nerves ttrongh 

 which the current passes were produced by the bio- 

 plasm, and the bioplasm was instrumental in the 

 arrangement of these nerves. The phenomena of the 

 nervous system, the action of nerves, depend entirely 

 upon the arrangement of the nerve fibres and the bio- 

 plasts. Although, therefore, the nerve current may be 

 due to chemical change, and the arrangement of the 

 nerves might be accounted for by physical actions, both 

 series of phenomena are dependent upon antecedent 

 operations, which must be at last referred to the direct 

 influence exerted hj the peculiar power which is 

 associated with the matter of the bioplasm during 

 its living state. The vital power of the bioplasm, is 

 the agency by which the positions of the molecules 

 which at length constitute the " nerve fibres " and 

 " nerve cells " is determmed, and this also causes the 

 particles of matter to assume relations of such a 

 nature that by the mutual interaction of their material 

 forces currents may be set free. 



255. The vital power of the highest bioplasm. — In 

 the highest bioplasm the vital power determines move- 

 ments which by reacting upon a previously formed 

 mechanism may give rise to the most complex phe- 

 nomena. In the mental apparatus, the "will " is the 

 "power" which determines the movements of the 

 matter of the bioplasts taking part in the phenomena 

 of mind. This is a vital action, the highest vital action 

 with which we are acquainted, but clearly to be in- 

 ckided in the same category as the vital actions which 

 determine the active movement of the matter of the 

 simplest forms of bioplasm, as that of an amoeba, or 

 a white blood-corpuscle, or other bioplast. The 

 movements of this the highest foi'm of bioplasm react 

 upon a wonderfully elaborate apparatus, parts of which 

 are in close relationship with the mental bioplasts. 

 Changes excited in the apparatus are the immediate 

 consequence of the vital movements. These last only are 



