GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 817 



close texture of the enclosing bag. 1 In the proligerous pellicle the 

 larger molecules unite end to end, forming bacteriums, or less re- 

 gularly into masses composing Torulce : these send out parts which 

 become jointed tubes, and may terminate in rows of sporules 

 (Penicillium) or capsules of such {Aspergillus). The bacteriums 

 may, by further union and confluence, form vibrios. There is 

 much activity, allied in character to the Brunonian movements ; 2 

 which, after a time, ceases, and the bacteriums, vibrios, &c. are 

 decomposed to constitute the secondary series of molecules in and 

 from which the development of the higher ciliate Infusory takes 

 place. The formation of the proligerous pellicle or e secondary 

 histolytic mass of molecules ' 3 by the primary developments and 

 resolutions of the organic material, is analogous to the formation 

 of the germ-mass, in ovo, by the successive spontaneous fissions, 

 assimilations, and ultimate coalescence of the progeny of the origi- 

 nal germinal cell. 



To meet the inevitable question of ' Whence the first organic 

 matter ? ' the JNomogenist is reduced to enumerate the existing ele- 

 ments into which the simplest living jelly (Protogenes of Hseckel) 

 or sarcode (Amceba) is resolvable, and to contrast the degree of 

 probability of such elements combining, under unknown condi- 

 tions, as the first step in the resolution of other forces into vital 

 force, with the degree of probability remaining, after the obser- 

 vations above recorded, of the interposition of a miraculous power 

 associating those elements into living germs, or forms with powers 

 of propagating their kind to all time, as the sole condition of 

 their ubiquitous manifestation, in the absence of any secondary 

 law thereto ordained. 



In this, the last general summary of work which I am likely 

 to find time to complete, the expression of belief on one or two 

 points where proof is wanting may be condoned. The chance 

 of its being a help, or encouragement, to any younger, more 

 vigorous, mind, bent upon grappling with such problems, outweighs 

 any anticipation of trouble consequent upon the avowal. 



It seems to me, then, more consistent with the present phase of 

 dynamical science and the observed gradations of living things, to 

 suppose that sarcode or the * protogenal ' jelly-speck should be 

 formable through concurrence of conditions favouring such com- 

 bination of their elements and involving a change of force produc- 

 tive of their contractions and extensions, molecular attractions 

 and repulsions — and that sarcode has so become, from the period 



1 ccxvn". 2 ccxviii". p. 470, in all organic molecules, living or dead. 



8 cccxxxv". p. 10. 

 VOL. III. 3 G 



