PRE FA CE. 



IX 



>i"cove 



blcm 







^ stron 



inds of 

 iffcrent 



IS 



get 



general 



t 



parts of . 



1cm 



cntary or 



mil 



about the origination of crystalline matter, and of 



another set for inducing and regulating the growth of 



crystals ? And may it not also be deemed just as absurd 



and unnecessary that any such demands should be made 



in reference to the origin of living matter and the 



growth of organisms? 



Both crystalline and living aggregates appear to be 



^^es byyt constantly separating de novo from different fluids, and 

 "J that theses both kinds of matter now seem to be naturally formable 

 saltSj whichj int from their elements. It so happens, however, that one of 

 d give rise to 'da the fundamental properties of living matter — that is to 

 s series of ascei say, its power of undergoing spontaneous division 

 :he products endo; is constantly entailing results which, owing to their 

 3m those of theiit being of a more obvious nature, have long and unduly 



le carbon compel monopolized 

 3 prove the mt ^^^^^ 



the attention of biologists and of the 

 in general. And yet the existence in living 



. . . ^^ matter of this power of spontaneous division, by which 



c tide P^*^^^^^^^ of ^reproduction^ are brought about, is rendered 



)n of niore 

 nd it is such 



processes of ^reproduction^ are brought about, is rendered 

 somewhat less exceptional and mysteHous when we 

 11 consider that a fragment of crystalline matter artificially 

 molecules severed from the parent mass will, under suitable con- 

 1 so often to ^ Jitions, grow into a crystal similar to the original form, 

 latter possess o ^pj,^^ reproduction of similar matter takes place in each 



cs 



to W 



hich 



c living 



br^- 



case ; and surely the mere fact that the initial repro- 

 ductive separation may occur ^spontaneously' in the 



'hich I ^^^^ ^'"case of living matter, is no argument against the pro- 



' a iTi^ttt^ bability ^]^^^ 5^^|-^ matter may, like crystalline matter, 



hat living 



r 



; 



but 



that; 



lik^ also come into 



being 



by an independent elemental 



hv virt^^ mode of origin. 

 b^^^v , pfof Our experimental evidence, therefore, merely goes to 

 1 ^^ Ij it ^^^' prove that such an elemental origin of living matter 



^ ^ ^t^^is continually taking place at the present day, ^^^"^ 

 js 



h/ 



that 



S:: 



;urn^? 



ia 



cies 







rdef 



to' 



