DYNAMIC STATE OF LIVING MATTER. 197 



be perfect." Again, in illustrating chemical decomposition by 

 the instance of potassa and carbonate of lime, whereby the car- 

 bonic acid cleaves to the potassa and quicklime is set free, he 

 says, " It is precisely as if some stronger planet were brought 

 near enough to draw the moon off from the earth ; in which 

 case the compound unit called the terrestrial system, composed 

 of the earth and the moon, would be decomposed." It is 

 obvious how this harmonizes with the more recently found 

 law of atomic values or atomicities, and I do not know that any 

 other even plausible physical theory of it has been formed. The 

 diagrammatic representation of the position of the atoms given 

 in the form of tooth-combs, balls on rayed spikes, bricks, &c., 

 seem to be contrived as if to show how they could not possibly 

 exist in nature. It also gives us an idea how force may be 

 accumulated within the molecules in the form of interior work, 

 as it is known to be. To return to the state of living 

 matter. " Let us," says Beale, " in imagination peer into the 

 ultimate particles of the living, active, moving matter,, and 

 consider what we should probably discover. Were it possible 

 to see things so very small, I think we should discover 

 spherules of extreme minuteness, each being composed of 

 still smaller spherules, and these spherules infinitely minute. 

 Such spherules would have upon their surface a small quantity 

 of matter differing in properties from that in the interior, but 

 so soft and diffluent that the particles might come into very 

 close proximity. In each little spherule the matter would be 

 in active movement, and new minute spherules would be spring- 

 ing into being in its central part. Those spherules already 

 formed would be making their way outwards, so as to give place 

 to new ones, which continually arise in the centre of every one 



of those animated particles The change which occurs in 



the living centre is probably sudden and abrupt. The life 

 flashes, as it were, into the inanimate particles and they live 

 ("Prot.,"3rded., 277). 



In this smallest conceivable mass there exists, as Beale 

 frequently repeats, fluid pabulum passing into the centre, being 

 there transformed, and working outwards till on the surface a 

 portion dies into the formed material. Here are then condi- 



