\V. (.. STKV ENSOX. '.)?-i 61 | 



to its elementary state, the force conserved in a higher state 

 represents the original larger, but weaker force of Lower 

 grade. The same is true when chemical compounds, as 

 represented in the mineral kingdom, are lifted to the 

 plane of the vegetable kingdom, or when the members of 

 thisclassare raised to the highest class of the animal king- 

 dom. In all cases the- higher conditions depend upon 

 the conditions of the next lower plane, and the conserved 

 forces of the higher plane, when liberated by decomposi- 

 tion, represent the special functions of the organization. 



There is not a phenomenon in animal life, from the earl- 

 iest stage of germ growth to the final stage of human 

 development, but is susceptible of classification. The 

 monera — mere specks of bioplasm — organisms without 

 organs, so far as can be determined, in their power to 

 move, to receive nourishment, to react on external im- 

 pressions and to reproduce their kind, not only manifest 

 the fundamental properties of life, but display them 

 under conditions so simple, so free from all morphologi- 

 cal complications, that the way seems prepared by na- 

 ture herself for the inquirer to enter the portals which 

 open into the mysteries of life. They are on the border- 

 land of the living and the not living, blending on the one 

 side with colloidal matter and on the other with 

 vegetable forms, all so intimately related, in form and 

 function, as to make difficult and at times impossible 

 their differentiation. Certainly the primitive forms of 

 life are so intimately related with simple "matter" as 

 to justify, if not necessitate the conclusion of genetic 

 correlation. 



We see this simple hyaline particle of bioplasm ex- 

 pand and contract, accompanied with chemical composi- 

 tion and decomposition, and the conclusion is irresisti- 

 ble, that these simplest forms of motion, expansion and 

 contraction, follow in orderly sequence of cause and 

 effect. 



Motility, arising from chemical disintegration and re- 

 integration, represents therefore a fundamental expres- 

 sion of living organized matter, and impresses us with 

 the idea of energy transformed. Indeed, all the functions 

 of the higher organisms testify to the truth of the pro 

 position, that every manifestation of energy of organ- 



