198 CHANGES IN SMALL MASSES OF ZOOGLCEA 



science. It suggests however now, as it did in 1872, a striking 

 analogy, to which I then referred in the following terms': — 



" Just as we have supposed that living matter itself comes into 

 being by virtue of combinations and rearrangements taking place 

 amongst invisible colloidal molecules, so now does the study of the 

 changes in the ' pellicle ' absolutely demonstrate the fact that the 

 visible, new-born units of living matter behave in the manner 

 which we have attributed to the invisible colloidal molecules. 

 The living units combine, they undergo molecular rearrangements, 

 and the result of such a process of Heterogenetic Biocrasis is 

 the appearance of larger and more complex organisms ; just as 

 the result of the combination and rearrangement between the 

 colloidal molecules was the appearance of primordial aggregates 

 of living matter. Living matter is formed, therefore, after a process 

 which is essentially similar to the mode by which higher organisms 

 are derived from lower organisms in the pellicle on an organic 

 infusion. All the steps in the latter process can be watched ; 

 it is one of synthesis — a merging of lower individuahties into a 

 higher individuality. And although such a process has been 

 previously almost ignored in the world of living matter, it is no 

 less real than when it takes place amongst the simpler elements 

 of not-living matter. In both cases the phenomena are essentially 

 dependent upon the ' properties ' or ' inherent tendencies ' of the 

 matter which displays them." 



' " The Beginnings of Life," vol. ii, p. 262. 



