THE BIOLOGY OF DAILY LIFE. 



that between Inorganic and Organic Chemistry. 

 This distinction belongs properly to Biology, and not 

 to Chemistry.* 



In Life and the science of Life, which is Biology, 

 there is no more essential distinction than that which 

 lies between the mineral as such, and the organism, 

 whether animal or vegetable ; between organized and 

 non-organized material; organized and unorganized 

 structure. 



But next to this in importance comes the distinction 

 amongst organisms themselves, based upon their mode 

 of assimilation. 



I venture to call this distinction more essential 

 than any based upon differentiation, though differ- 

 entiation covers all the difference (biologically 

 speaking) between a Man and an Amoeba. As- 

 similation, or the power of drawing into, and making 

 a part of its own intimate structure, suitable portions 

 of its environment, is the very most essential and vital 

 endowment any organism can possess. Its very exist- 

 ence depends upon the power of assimilation. Now, 

 I repeat, a distinction, based upon marked difference 

 in the mode of assimilation, must be a most important 

 distinction. Such is the distinction between the 

 vegetable organism and the animal organism which 

 we have already described under the Law of Inter- 

 change (see page 5). 



Our corollary is this : 



SUBSTANCE CAN BE RECEIVED INTO THE ANIMAL 



* See Sir H. E.Eoscoe, in his " Elementary Chemistry" (p. 265). 

 " Organic Chemistry" is defined as " the chemistry of the carbon 

 compounds," and he denies that there is any real difference 

 between the laws of Inorganic and Organic chemistry. 



