PROF. LIONEL 8. BEALE, F.R.C.P., F.R.S., ON VITALITY. 71 
Beale himself did not a little trip this evening when he referred 
to evolution going on in living matter. If that word is applied 
to the changes that living matter produces, or which are pro- 
duced through living matter, the word is not used in its 
ordinary acceptation, for evolution implies the transmutation of 
species, and the transmutation of species I am sure Professor 
Lionel Beale would be the first to say was not proved by science. 
I would ask the Professor, with regard to the conversion of 
non-living matter into living matter, whether he considers 
that it is living matter that effects that transmutation, or whether 
it is not rather the vital principle in that living matter which 
does so P 
Professor Lions, Braty.—But the living matter is produced in 
the substance of existing living matter. It is here that the 
non-living matter introduced as the nutriment becomes living, and 
acquires from the already living matter itself vital powers of the 
same kind. 
Professor OrcuarD.—Exactly. 
Professor Lions Beate.—And so in evolution I should say 
there is no example of evolution and transmutation dependent 
upon any changes except those which take place in the bioplasm 
—the actual living matter. You cannot have altered form, 
colour, and other specific changes in successive developments of 
creatures without every one of them beginning as living matter, 
which is structureless. You must consider the earliest stages to 
form an idea of the nature of the changes which result in the 
production’of colour, structure, physical characters, chemical com- 
position and properties. 
. Professor OncHARD.—The word development would better express 
what I mean. 
Professor Lionet Beate.—You have evolution in development, 
and may not development be applied to all forms of evolution. 
Professor OxcuarD.—I should never myself use the word in 
that way. I think it is convenient to keep the word to a distinct 
theory which involves and postulates the transmutation of species. 
I do not think it quite answers the question as to the change of 
the non-living into the actual living matter. Is it not, rather, the 
vitalism, or the principle of life in the living matter which does 
this F ; 
Professor Lionen Beanue.—Yes; but the new matter becomes 
