LIVING AND NON-LIVING. 43 



such phenomena to what has been called " diffe- 

 rentiation," is simply degrading science. We are 

 quite ignorant of the exact nature of the changes that 

 occur, but we do know that the bioplasm lives, and that 

 the tissue formed by it does not live. We shall see that 

 the distinction between the matter which is actually 

 living and that which is not living is a cardinal fact 

 of very great importance. This indeed appears to 

 me to form the very starting point of physiology. 

 Without recognising the distinction between the 

 living and the non-living, all discussion concerning 

 the phenomena of living beings will only lead to 

 vague and contradictory conclusions, and the use of 

 terms and phrases which perplex the student instead 

 of helping him to learn. 



