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336 



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THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE, 



the higher animals whilst still contained within its egg 

 may fairly enough be compared with the lower organ- 

 isms of which we have been speaking, in respect to the 

 quality of the matter of which they are composed j and 

 knowing the profoundly modifying influence of water 

 at a temperature of ai2°F upon the comparatively un- 

 difFerentiated matter of the embryo in the egg — and 

 also, we may add, even upon the differentiated tissues 

 of the parent fish or fowl — need we wonder much that 

 the same temperature should have been hitherto found 

 to be destructive to the simple and naked hving matter 



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entering into the composition of Bacteria and Vihrlones^ 

 and to the almost naked living matter of Fungus-s'^oxts ? 

 If any other result had been ascertained, would there 



shorter period. Many workmen employed in foundries and glass-works 

 also withstand very high temperatin-es, the skin being profusely bathed 

 with perspiration ; these men of necessity drink large quantities of fluid. 

 When, however, the air is moist as well as hot, the temperature that 

 can be endured is much less ; for, in a vapour bath, at a temperature of 

 only 120°, the body rapidly gains heat, as much as 70"" in ten minutes, 

 and a feeling of great and insupportable discomfort is experienced 

 (Berger and De la Roche). It is said, however, that from habit the 

 Finns can withstand, for upwards of half an hour, moist air or vapour 

 baths gradually raised to 158^ or even to 167°/ {OutVmes of Physiology, 

 Human and Comparative, 1867, vol. ii. p. 511O ^^ soon, indeed, as the 

 temperature of the warm-blooded animal, as a whole, is raised to no - 

 ii2°F, it speedily dies; the length of time, therefore, which it can bear 

 exposure to higher temperatures is almost wholly dependent upon the 

 freedom and rapidity with which evaporation of its fluids takes place. 

 Minute particles or specks of naked living matter cannot avail them- 

 selves of such antagonising influences, and even if they had any self- 

 protecting resources of this kind, they would be of little or no^service 

 in an atmosphere saturated with hot vapour, and of still less avail when 

 the living particles were immersed in heated fluids. 



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