80 THE MORPHOLOGY 



in science, and if the mere form of the delusion were the 

 criterion of sanity or Insanity, even many distinguished 

 naturalists of our time would have to share the narrow cell 

 of my unfortunate Mahlberg. 



The purport of the error, expressed in general terms, 

 is this : that a definite mixture of definite substances is at 

 once a perfect individualized natural body ; while, in reality, 

 there must be combination of two different kinds ; namely, 

 of matter and of form or shape, which two things are 

 equally necessary to complete the special conception of an 

 organism. The define^ limitation in space, is exactly that 

 which we consider the chief characteristic of an indivi- 

 dualized natural body. The surrounding material world 

 exhibits itself, according to the manner in which we look 

 at it, with three totally different sides, and each of these 

 gives us opportunity to develop a peculiar scientific 

 system. No human being can foresee whether we shall 

 ever succeed in including two, much more all three of 

 these systems in one common scientific theory of the 

 world, proceeding from a single principle. These three 

 systems, which are the primary divisions of natural science 

 as a whole, may be most simply and intelligibly explained 

 by a consideration of our solar system. In this we find, 

 in the first place, certain great bodies which are formed 

 of matters of different kinds. These matters and their 

 peculiarities, the mass, which is the basis of the whole 

 system, is the first subject of our inquiries, thus arises 

 the study of matter or Hylology. But we observe, at the 

 same time, that these ponderous masses of matter are never 

 at rest, that unceasing change of relative position drives 

 them through space. The motions and their regulation 

 become the second object of our research, the study of 

 motion or Phoronomv. But we have not vet exhausted 



