
654 WHAT IS BATHYBIUS? 
living matter does contain something wanting to the "not liv- 
ing matter." 
The living organism increases, multiplies, and reproduces 
itself through a power that is inherent, whereas a crystal can 
only do so through powers external to itself; whatever it 
may be, the vital power is always derived; no known com- 
bination of inorganic elements or dead forces could have 
created it. Except in a few obscure cases, too ill-understood 
to be made the basis of a grave argument, protoplasm can 
always be traced, directly or indirectly, to some preéxist- 
ing form of protoplasm. We nowhere discover any power 
which, without the intervention of some already living agent, 
can convert inorganic matter into living matter. If we 
could even trace back the history of protoplasm, until we 
reached one of Mr. Darwin’s primeval germs, our philosophy 
would still leave the first of these living azotized combina- 
tions unaccounted for. Since, then, scientific experience 
affords no proof that life is nothing more than a function of 
material combinations; acted upon by physical forces, we 
are justified in the recognition of a vital principle, emana- 
ting primarily from a living Creator, but which, once created, 
appears capable of self-perpetuation to the end of time. 
If, having recognized the importance of the study of pro- 
toplasm amongst the lower animals, we commence its pur- 
suit, we soon discover the difficulties which surround it, 
especially when we discover the apparent inadequacy of the 
causes to the effects produced. We see a granular jelly 
evolving endlessly varied forms of grace and beauty ; at one 
time using silica as its raw material, at another carbonate of 
ime. Here it glues together grains of sand, there it de- 
. velops a new sand-like compound, the very nature of which 
has yet to be discovered. In one form it produces the 
horny network of a sponge — in another the ethereal tracery 
9f an Euplectella. The colors of its products are almost as 
varied as their material forms. We seék the cause of all 
this rich diversity — but seek in vain. We see the almost 


