' ^//£. 



■crnal 

 - to 



S \)Qq 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



77 



the ' 



iji produced under the influence of physical forces alone, 



"^ dwel; just as it is admitted that the first particles of a crystal 



^^y previous, are formed by ^spontaneous' combination. Just as 



*- ^ a most iuft, all subsequent portions of the crystal form in obe- 





c veral 



of 



montli 



niy own 



dience to the same molecular properties and physical 

 forces as lead to the collocation of the first particles^ 

 so may the first particles of an organism combine 



ences as those which subsequently determine its 



a sim"l ^^ virtue of the same chemical and physical influ- 



that livings 



belief in tk 



icccssity^ ast 



mcrease 



The plant takes not-living mineral ingredients from 

 earth and air^ and under the influence of solar light and 

 heat, these simple materials assume within its tissues 



y as far as tte those higher modes of combination which are necessary 

 m the fluid iii' in order that they may be converted into ^ living ' 

 inisms can bet matter. The forces at work In and upon the plant are 

 'ks which If- supposed to be nothing more than ordinary physical 

 fr Concernit forces. Here, however, it is true, matter passes from 

 *^ms ^ve to ^^ lifeJess to the livmg state of combination under 



J have the influence of pre-existing protoplasm. No unknown 

 ^ and independent forces are now supposed to be at 



work within living tissues, and therefore we must 

 suppose that, under the influence of the physical forces 

 within and those without the organism, lifeless com- 



^ Living matter, like crystalline matter, is only formable by a synthesis 

 of its elements. As Crystals have not the power of self-multiplication, 

 they have only one mode of origin. But because Organisms have repro- 

 ductive powers, the obviousness of these modes of increase has sufficed 

 to cast doubts upon the reality of the independent origin of living units. 



ersal difFusio^ 

 livcrsal ^ 



nio? 



ave seen, 



,gs which no*^ 

 ting 



living 

 that 



an 



1 



be brou^ 



ght' (See vol. i. p. 473.) 



org 



aiiis 



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