W. I. Burnett on the Relations of Celis, ete. 87 
Arr. XIV.—T'he Relations of Cells to the Physical and Teleo- 
logical views of Organization; by W. I. Buryett, M.D., 
Boston. ; 
Tue cell is the fundamental unity of organized forms. It is 
the chosen material form throngh which organization gains its 
first expression. T'o use a meta hor, it is the only altar on which 
life and matter are married, to pursue together a common an 
definite end. 
These premises being true, as all modern inquiry clearly proves, 
We can justly seek froma study of this cell, a manifestation of 
‘the conditions of organization, as far as they are capable of 
being made evident through material forms. We can also ex- 
pect, by a consideration of these conditions, to be able to com- 
prehend the higher and ulterior relations of organization as oc- 
curring in permanent individual forms. 
_ Two dissimilar views of the real nature of organization have 
been urged in modern times. 
That the bearings of the subject in question may be fully un- 
derstood, a brief description of both of these views is here re- 
quired. The first is, that every individual organism exists in 
virtue of a predominant idea: this idea, therefore, preceded the 
organism, of which this last is the true material manifestation. 
Simply a colligation of molecules of plastic matter occurring 
under the direction of a determinate idea or force. Th 
tween them a broad distinction can be drawn. 
_ Thus, onr. idea of life is necessarily connected with, and de- 
Pendent upon, that of organization; becanse, from the limitations 
of experience, Wwe have not, and cannot conceive of it as a dis- 
tinet and separate entity. On the other hand, our conception of 
"Ss determinate idea, or that of the individuality of organiza- 
: although. involving some of the same data as that of life, 
occurs from relations ‘sufficiently dissimilar, to show well its dis- 
Thus, while our idea of life is only coéxistent with 
es of organization ; our idea of this individuality is not only 
fent, but necessarily preéxistent to it. We do not compre- 
hend life except in conjunction with matter under peculiar forms : 
Me the other hand we conceive of this determinate idea or 
"ality, a8 existing before a trace of organization appears. 
