i88i.] 
Life and its Basis . 
3 
matter, such as heat, electricity, or magnetism.* To this 
view I may have to revert in a subsequent part of this 
paper. 
It is now generally agreed that life (on our earth at least) 
is never found except as associated with a certain chemical 
compound to which the name of “ protoplasm ” has been 
assigned, consisting of the elements carbon, hydrogen, 
oxygen, and nitrogen, technically represented as CHON — 
animal forms comprising all four, while vegetables, with a 
few exceptions, contain only the first three. In the living 
organisms the proportions of these elements vary indefi- 
nitely, and also include some other elements, as phosphorus, 
&c. It is, however, by no means certain that protoplasm is 
chemically identical in the two kingdoms of Nature, or even 
that it is precisely the same in every species. 
But let us assume that Prof. Huxley was justified in con- 
sidering this albuminous compound to be “the physical 
basis of life,” — indeed “ the matter of life,” — and that, in 
reality, all living structures are built upon this foundation. 
No one will contend, however, that this arrangement was a 
necessary one. It is quite as conceivable that life might have 
been conferred on portions of elementary matter, as metals 
or gases. If any reason can be assigned for the aCtual basis 
being an unstable compound, it is that it was intended that 
this basis should be liable to change and dissolution, — i.e., 
that it was designed to be only a temporary provision. 
There is, however, another general consideration, the im- 
portance of which is often underrated. It has been assumed, 
with respeCt both to protoplasm and to the organised tissues 
produced from it, that the static condition of the component 
elementary substances in them is the same in the living and 
the dead state. Now chemical analysis can only deal with 
matter in its non-living state ; and however exaCt this 
analysis may be, it is really begging the question to assume 
that the component elements are in the same state in living 
and in non-living organisms. Sulphur, phosphorus, carbon, 
and oxygen itself, are known to be susceptible of different 
forms or states : and of these differences chemistry can give no 
account, in the present state at least of our knowledge. 
Living protoplasm, therefore, may be something more than 
a mere chemical compound. The chemist may unite the 
elements CO and produce carbonic acid, or HN and form 
ammonia, or HO and exhibit water. He may further imitate 
the operations of organic chemistry, and form some of the 
* See Huxley’s Lay Sermon on Protoplasm. 
B 2 
