126 PROFESSOR LIONEL BEALE, F.R.C.P., F.R.S., ON THE 



preparation and promise, in anticipation of the spring and 

 summer that are to follow ? 



Few recognize the fact, that new living particles, sometimes 

 with new powers, arise in the very substance of the living 

 matter. These appear as very minute particles which 

 gradually grow — and somehow acquire new powers which never 

 come from the outside but always spring up from vnthin. 

 Growth never depends upon the apposition, aggregation, or 

 collection of separate minute particles, being deposited on the 

 outer surfaces of living matter. This vital movement from 

 within occurs generally in the early developmental period of 

 living matter. It also occurs all through life, and particularly 

 in the living matter of the so-called " cells " in the cortex of the 

 cerebral convolutions of man and animals, or on the brain 

 surface, and in other nerve centres, from vnthin living matter 

 which already exists. This is all important ; and, does it not 

 suggest to the mind highly interesting possibilities, as to the 

 precise seat of origination of new vital capacity, and of new and 

 advancing mental power ? Nor must we in this connexion 

 forget the often sudden occurrence of new ideas, which seem to 

 arise spontaneously in the mind, and even the " voice within ? 



Every one who has carefully considered what he has observed 

 of the living matter of a vertebrate embryo during the early 

 period of its development, and has tried to reason concerning 

 the facts of observation, will I think feel compelled by the 

 evidence, to acknowledge the unceasing operation of Infinite 

 Powei', throughout the whole life world — no other inference 

 appearing reasonable to the mind of an observer, who has seen 

 and made himself acquainted with the facts. The countless 

 numbers of separate particles of living matter or Bioplasm of 

 which every embryo at this early period entirely consists, the 

 arrangement of these particles in many groups, and the 

 composition of the substances which result from their death, 

 the large proportion of water associated with them while living 

 and growing, being also noted as well as the absence of all 

 structure at this early period — will I think satisfy the observer 

 that the influence of life-power must be admitted, and the 

 arrangements caused by life, recognized as the direct work of 

 the God of Life — no other explanation having presented itself 

 as possible, to the mind that reasons on the subject at this 

 time. 



I have myself had an opportunity of studying the living 

 particles of the human embryo at early periods of its develop- 

 ment. A few of the minute bioplasts from the collections in 



