ATOMS AND MOLECULES IN DEAD AND LIVING MATTER loi 



prefigure limbs. In the siren, two very tiny rudimentary anterior limbs, with imperfect digits, appear. In the 

 Amphiuma, these are increased to four (two anterior and two posterior). In the MenobrancJius, the same arrange- 

 ment obtains ; the limbs, though still very rudimentary, being a little larger. The limbs increase in size, and 

 become more differentiated in the triton and crocodile, and are perfected in quadrupeds and bipeds. 



The tendency of the body to proliferate into extremities, digits, rays, &c., proves clearly enough that the 

 dendritic, or branching type, is common both in the organic and inorganic kingdoms. In fact, the branching 

 formations which occur in such great numbers in plants and animals are the analogues of the dendrites seen in 

 minerals and metals ; in the arborescent frost pictures ; in the branching lightning, &c. The spiral formations 

 so common in plants and animals have also their representatives in the physical universe. These, as already indi- 

 cated, appear as physical vortices, in spiral sand-storms, spiral water-spouts, and spirally-arranged nebulae. The 

 physical spiral arrangements may not inaptly be regarded as the forerunners or heralds of the twisted stems and 

 the revolving movements of cUmbing plants ; and of the twisted bones and extremities of quadnipeds and bipeds, 

 with their spiral joints and complement of spiral muscles and spiral movements. 



No doubt many will fail to perceive any possible connection between spiral sand-storms, spiral water-spouts, 

 spiral nebulae, &c., and the spiral stems and revolving movements of plants, and the twisted Umbs and spiral 

 movements of animals, as seen in walking, swimming, and flying ; and if so, no one will be disposed to cavil or 

 impute blame ; still the resemblances are so striking, when carefully looked into, that no scientific inquirer can 

 afford to pass them over. They are especially striking, when it is felt that they are the results of the spiral dis- 

 tribution and spiral movements of the atoms and molecules common ahke to the inorganic and organic kingdoms. 

 They, in fact, point to the existence of a great law of growth, development, and movement which reigns supreme 

 in both kingdoms, whereby atoms and molecules coalesce to form crystals and dendrites in the physical universe, 

 and plants and animals in the mysterious universe of fife. The law indicated, there is reason to believe, governs 

 not only the major operations which produce movement and form in crystals, dendrites, plants, and animals, but 

 also the minor operations which determine the arrangements and movements of the atoms which form molecules, 

 of the molecules which form cells, and of the cells which form tissues. 



§ 19. Atoms and Molecules the same in Dead and Living Matter. 



There are good grounds for beheving that the distribution and movements of atoms and molecules in the 

 organic and inorganic kingdoms are not essentially different, what difference there is being traceable to the presence 

 of Hfe in the organic kingdom ; fife controlling, within limits, the elements of the inorganic kingdom, but working 

 virtually on the same lines as obtain in that kingdom. 



The ultimate distribution and movements of matter in the organic and inorganic kingdoms, when one comes 

 to think of it, should not materially differ. The one is part of the other. The organic comes from and returns to 

 the inorganic ; the elements in both are the same. The plant and animal borrow all the materials forming their 

 bodies, and much of the force which energises them, from the inorganic kingdom. There is therefore no room for 

 antagonism between the organic and inorganic kingdoms, in so far as the dendritic and spiral formations and 

 movements which prevail in both are concerned. 



The oneness, the practical identity, structurally and functionally, which obtains in the organic and inorganic 

 kingdoms, affords perhaps the strongest argument for design yet put forward. It shows that the great First Cause 

 is the Author of the organic and inorganic kingdoms aUke ; that He works contiaually, and on the same lines in 

 both ; that the two kingdoms are complemental, in fact, working parts of each other ; that the organic kingdom, 

 while an elaboration and differentiation of the inorganic kingdom, is in no sense an inimical elaboration. 



This accoimts for the reciprocation which is known to exist as between plants and animals, and as between both 

 and the physical imiverse ; for the reciprocation which is known to take place as regards the intake and output 

 of extraneous matters (soUd, fluid, and gaseous) during the Uves of plants and animals ; for the reciprocation of 

 day and night, and the seasons, in their bearing on the growth, development, and rhythmic movements of plants 

 and animals ; for the continued prevalence of law and order in the physical universe, and in the world of plants 

 and animals, whereby the latter, and all parts of the latter, are duly provided for as regards looahty, environ- 

 ment, food, &c. 



As, on the one hand, it is impossible to conceive of the physical universe as a chance combination of hetero- 

 geneous substances and movements, so, on the other hand, it is impossible to imagine the great kingdom of plants 

 and animals as the product of spontaneous generation and of accident. The controlling power of the Creator 

 alone can explain the glories of the heavens and the wonders of animated nature. The same Master-Mind regulates 

 the outgoings and incomings of both. It is unphilosophical to assume that law and order prevail in every depart- 



