book: reviews. 



661 



" The Evolution and Function of Living Purposive Matter." By 

 N. C. Macnamara, F.E.C.S. 8vo., 298 pp. (Kegan Paul, London, 

 1910.) 5s net. 



This book consists of two Parts ; the first deals with the main sub- 

 ject of the work; the latter is an historical account of the action of 

 cyllase, from prehistoric times, to " substantiate the conclusions " of 

 the first Part. 



The object of the work is to establish the fact that action excited 

 in living protoplasm by the various modes of energy, is transmuted by 

 certain of its elements into movements adapted to promote the well- 

 being of the organism (Preface). 



The whole contention of the work is concentrated in the words, 

 " The purposive elements [of protoplasm] which direct their move- 

 ments, undergo a corresponding evolution, and become developed into 

 matter possessing instructive, and finally psychical, functions." 



In illustrating his theory by animal structures, he speaks, e.g., 

 of the motion of cilia as due to " energy acting on the living matter 

 of the cilia; we call such energy purposive." Again, he says, 

 " Protoplasm contains somatic, germinal, and purposive elements." 



" The theory which seems to us best adapted to explain the pheno- 

 mena presented by living matter, assumes that it consists of a specific 

 numerical and structural arrangement of elements, which act as a 

 transformer of non-vital into biotic or living energy. . . . Life, there- 

 fore, is the result of chemical and other modes of energy acting on a 

 specific form of matter " (p. 159). This appears to be quoted from 

 Professor B. Moore (our italics). 



The fundamental objection to all the above is this. No elements, as 

 those of which protoplasm is composed, are alive (C, 0, H, N, S, P, Fe); 

 nor are any combinations of them, apart from the organic world, 

 associated with life. A chemist cannot make protoplasm, though he 

 can produce in his laboratory many organic substances, such as 

 madder and certain sugars, &c. It is only living beings that can 

 make it in their bodies out of non-living elements. These elements 

 have no power per se to exhibit ** purpose." It is the same with all 

 physical forms of energy. They can act on matter, but they cannot 

 direct it. Matter and Force make up the universe; both are lifeless. 

 Purposiveness, therefore, does not reside in either matter or force; 

 and neither, therefore, can evolve life with purposiveness. It is Life 

 alone which is the Director of Forces, being endowed with a capacity 

 to build up matter for a purposeful end. 



" Phases of Evolution and Heredity." By D. H. Hart, M.D. Svo., 

 259 pp. (Eebman, London, 1910.) 5s. net. 



This book contains fourteen essays, with notes and glossary. The 

 first deals with Darwin and Weismann, whom the author follows, and 

 rejects the view that adaptations arise by response to the environment, 



