604 



THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. Lect. VJ. 



The following remarks will serve to show the fallacy 

 of this reasoning. Though it is an established physio- 

 logical axiom, that cells are the elementary basis, the 

 ultimate limit to which we can trace all animal and vegeta- 

 ble structures, and that the varied functions in which 

 organic life essentially consists, are performed by the agency 

 of cells not distinguishable from each other by any well- 

 marked characters, there is not the slightest ground for 

 assuming any identity between the primary cells of the 

 simplest species of animals and vegetables ; much less be- 

 tween those of higher organization. The single cell which 

 embodies vitality in the yeast fungus or the monad, is 

 governed by the same immutable organic laws which pre- 

 side over the complicated structure of Man and the other 

 vertebrata : and the single cell which is the embryotic con- 

 dition of the Mammal, has no more relation to the single 

 cell which is the 'permanent condition of the Monad, than 

 has the perfect animal into which the mammalian cell is 

 ultimately developed. The cell that forms the germ of 

 each species of organism is endowed with special properties, 

 which can result in nothing but the fabrication of that 

 particular species. There is an analogy between the hu- 

 man embryo and the monad of the Yolvox, in that each 

 consists of simple cells : but there is no more identity 

 between the human and polygastrian cells than between 

 the perfect Man and the mature Animalcule.* 



crystal, to a globule capable of such endless organic and intellectual 

 development is as great a step — as unexplained a phenomenon — as unin. 

 telligible to us — and in any human sense of the word as miraculous, 

 as would be the immediate creation and introduction upon earth, of 

 every species, and every individual. Take the amazing facts of 

 Geology which way we will, wc must resort elsewhere than to a mere 

 speculative law of development for their explanation." — Brit. Assoc. 

 Iteports for 1845, p. 42. 



* See Notes to my Thoughts on Animalcules : and Westminster 

 Review, No. XC. Art. " The Microscope and its Kevelations." 



