254 
Experiments on 
TMonthly JVTicroscopical 
L Journal. Xov. 1, 1869. 
Spinosa, wlio held a rather different opinion to that of Buffon, 
beheved that there is in nature only one substance, and that this 
substance is infinitely diversified, having within its one essence the 
necessary causes of the changes through which it goes. 
In the investigations into the development of life, and to which 
the title of Spontaneous Generation has been given, I desire to direct 
special attention. We have in this something similar to that to 
which Buffon alludes when speaking of " the w^andering molecules." 
For when the portions of the organisms have become disintegrated 
or broken down, the molecules and cells of which they were formed 
are set free, and it is to the study of these in their separate and 
also in their aggregate forms that I desire to direct attention. A 
molecule is believed to be an aggregation of atoms ; and it is only 
in the molecular form that we are able to recognize matter in its 
highest state of disintegration ; and although we are enabled to 
examine with our instruments the apparently extreme points of 
matter, yet there is a world which lies beyond, as yet invisible — the 
atomic." One of the most recent and apparently one of the best 
informed philosophers in treating of this subject — the "atomic 
theory"* — Professor Bayma — believes each atom to be spherical 
in form, and surrounded by a repulsive electric ether, the atom 
itself being attractive ; and that every point of matter acts instan- 
taneously upon every other point at all distances, however great or 
small, with a force having the same character at all distances, and 
inversely to the square of that distance. But I hold with Professor 
Norton that this is assuming too much, as no proof has been esta- 
blished that an atom is spherical in form, or that it is a material point. 
" In fact, it appears to be highly probable, as supposed by Brodie, 
and strongly urged by Gerhardt and his followers, that few if any 
elementary substances in their uncombined condition are really 
known to us ; the so-called elementary bodies being really com- 
pounds of at least two atoms of the true element with each other. 
Thus hydrogen gas is not simple hydrogen, but is H2, or {], hydride 
of hydrogen, and so on with others." t 
We set out, then, as Mr. Herbert Spencer % says, " With mole- 
cules one degree higher in complexity than those molecules of 
nitrogenous colloidal substance into which organic matter is re- 
solvable; and we regard these somewhat more complex molecules 
as having the implied greater instability, greater sensitiveness to 
surrounding influences, and consequent greater mobility of form. 
Such being the primitive physiological units, organic evolution 
must begin with the formation of a minute aggregate of them — an 
aggregate showing vitality only by a higher degree of that readiness 
to change its form of aggregation which colloidal matter in general 
* * Pliilosopliical Magazine,' 1869. t Miller's 'Chemistry,' vol. iii. 
X ' Principles of Biology,' vol. 2, p. ii. 12. 
