AS REGARDS PROTOPLASM, ETC. 25 



may, and does, ultimately form ; but in the first instance, for 

 the most part, it appears, the cell is naked. The second step 

 in the resolution belongs perhaps to Briicke, though preceded 

 by Bergmann, and though Max Schultze, Kiihne, Haeckel, 

 and others ought to be mentioned in the same connection. 

 This step was the elimination, or at least subordination, of 

 the nucleus. The nucleus, we are to understand now, is 

 necessary, it may be, neither to the division nor to the exist- 

 ence of the cell. 



Thus, then, stripped of its membrane, relieved of its 

 nucleus, what now remains for the cell ? Why, nothing but 

 what was the contained matter, the intracellular matrix, 

 and is Protoplasm. 



In the application of this word itself, however, to the element 

 in question, there are also a step or two to be noticed. The 

 first step was Dujardin's discovery of sarcode; and the second the 

 introduction (by Mohl) of the term protoplasm as the name for the 

 layer of the vegetable cell that lined the cellulose, and enclosed the 

 nucleus. Sarcode, found in certain of the lower forms of life, was 

 a simple substance that exhibited powers of spontaneous contrac- 

 tion and movement. Thus, processes of such simple, soft, con- 

 tractile matter are protuded by the rhizopods, and locomotion by 

 their means effected. Remak first extended the use of the term 

 protoplasm from the layer which bore that name in the vegetable 

 cell to the analogous element in the animal cell; but it was Max 

 Schultze, in particular, who, by applying the name to the intra- 

 cellular matrix, or contained matter, when divested of mem- 

 brane, and by identifying this substance itself with sarcode, 

 first fairly established protoplasm, name and thing, in its pre- 

 sent prominence. 



In this account I have necessarily omitted many subordinate 

 and intervening steps in the successive establishment, appar- 

 ently, of the contractility, superior importance^ and complete isola- 

 tion of this thing to which, under the name of protoplasm, Mr 

 Huxley of late has called such vast attention, Besides the 

 names mentioned, there are others of great eminence in this 

 connection, such as Meyen, Siebold, Reichert, Ecker, Henle, and 

 Kolliker among the Germans ; and among ourselves, Beale and 

 Huxley himself. John Goodsir will be mentioned again. 



We have now, perhaps, obtained a general idea of protoplasm. 

 Briicke, when he talks of it as " living cell-body or elementary 

 organism," comes very near the leading idea of Mr Huxley as 

 expressed in his phrase, " the physiological basis, or matter, of 

 life." Living cell-body, elementary organism, primitive living 

 matter that, evidently, is the quest of Mr Huxley. There is 

 aqueous matter, he would say, perhaps, composed of hydrogen 

 and oxygen, and it is the same thing whether in the rain-drop 



