THE BIOLOGY OF DAILY LIFE. 79 



" Hence it appears to be a matter of no great 

 moment what animal or what plant I lay under 

 contribution for protoplasm, and the fact speaks 

 volumes for the general identity of that sub- 

 stance 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" 

 [mark the caution of the philosopher, his lan- 

 guage must not be taken as the hyperbole of 

 the mere popular lecturer, he has his sober eye 

 on the limits of his observation ; even his om- 

 nivorous empire is not sine fine] " the assimi- 

 milative powers of the animal would cease/' 



" A solution of smelling-salts in water, with 

 an infinitesimal proportion of some other saline 

 matter, contains all the elementary bodies 

 which enter into the composition of protoplasm ; 

 but I need hardly say a hogshead of that fluid 

 would not keep a hungry man from starving, 

 nor would it save any animal from a like fate." 

 Now, I ask any one whether they will try the 

 simple experiment of preaching that part of the " lay 

 sermon" to their cooks, and see it rationally carried out. 

 It appears to be a matter of no great moment what 

 animal or what plant I lay under contribution for my 

 dinner no, don't take me up so literally for the 

 physical basis of my life. 



reverential attitude of that great man of science. " Through- 

 out his life, Michael Faraday appeared as though standing in a 

 reverential attitude towards Nature, Man, and God. Towards 

 Nature, for he regarded the Universe as a vast congeries of facts 

 which would not bend to human theories." 



