fi 



634 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



although in the 



collocation which have been assumed by the molecules 



of iron. 



Living matter is especially characterized by the com- 

 plexity of its molecules and their state of continual 

 intestine movement. This peculiarity, as well as other 

 related qualities, make the simplest aggregates of such 

 matter especially prone to undergo those secondary 

 structural rearrangements which all plastic and homo- 

 geneous masses of matter are liable to exhibit. And 



case of living matter^ these re-arrange- 

 ments manifest themselves by producing what we call 

 ^organization/ still the forms and structures which 



many 



entirely referrible to the polarities of their molecules — 

 just as the forms of crystals are the results of similar^ 

 though simpler_, polarities. 



And, speaking generally, the complexity of ^organi- 

 zation^ attainable by the lower animal forms gradually 

 tends to increase as the masses of matter from which 

 new forms are to arise increase in size — owing appa- 

 rently to the multiplication of effects that may be 



induced by the production of several series of molecular 



These 



take 



of the lowest organisms tend to assume 



are 



3 J r 



rearrangements within the larger aggregates, 

 rearrangements (developmental changes) often 

 place rapidly and without appreciable increase in bulk 

 of the mass which undergoes them; and the dissimilar 

 changes which may be seen to take place in different 

 masses are attributable to the existence of different 

 initial states of molecular composition. The changes 



\ 



•er 



The po^' 



fissioi^ 



r 



} 



or gem 

 and up 



< 



r 

 f 



I 



ion'depen' 



fDtal propel t' 

 cular mob; 



ly refer 



And it is thi: 

 ffl aggregate of 

 oiganism, very 



constituti 



i 



nc' 



uddence of 



If not visibly 

 ilst others st 

 Js to bring ab( 

 coostitution 



*''s a more 



3 



w 



5nd sttuct 



. ^^'"^ the ni 



'Jre ;i 



\ thei 



ifir 



lUbi 



tend 



ency 



\ 



coinpiexi 

 ' ^f the 



truth 



of 



s 



asb 



^vl 



J 



ave 



