736 Analyses of Boohs, [December, 
longer be spoken of as a coagulum of white of egg.” It may 
also be contended that the chemical identity of the protoplasm 
of all animals and of all plants is not proven, since it has been 
actually examined in very few cases only. Indeed from multi- 
tudes of forms it would be impracticable to obtain protoplasm in 
quantity sufficient for analysis. It must, however, be recognised 
that an established difference in the chemical constitution of the 
protoplasm obtained from different species would be a serious 
difficulty in the way of the Evolutionist interpretation of Nature. 
If all beings are descended from one common origin, it seems 
probable that their matter and their ultimate texture will show 
marks of such relation not less distinCt than do their outward 
forms. We doubt whether, e.g., the blood-elements and the 
spermatozoids have been sufficiently studied from this point of 
view in mutually allied forms. 
Concerning the origin and nature of life Dr. Wilson’s views 
may perhaps be summarised in the following extracts : — 
“ It is by means of protoplasm that the cells of the liver 
secrete bile ; it is through the properties of protoplasm producing 
new cells that a scratch heals or other breach of bodily continuity 
is repaired ; and it is by means of a peculiar functional develop- 
ment of this same substance that we are able to lay the flattering 
unCtion to our souls that we are the possessors of mind, intelli- 
gence, and will.” 
“ Of the differences in the inherent nature of protoplasm under 
different conditions we are as yet in complete ignorance.” 
Again : “ Nowhere do we find life dissociated from protoplasm, 
and this faCt alone argues in favour of the view that the ‘ vital 
force ’ of the scientist or the ‘ vital spark ’ of the poet is in each 
case merely the convenient and summary expression of that 
high form of energy which corresponds to no one force in 
Nature, but to all combined.” It might perhaps be permissible 
to ask for a more precise statement of the last clause. 
The writer goes on to quote the following significant passage 
from Prof. Huxley : — A mass of living protoplasm is simply a 
molecular machine of great complexity, the total results of the 
working of which, or its vital phenomena, depend, on the one 
hand, upon its construction, and on the other upon the energy 
supplied to it ; and to speak of ‘ vitality ’ as anything but the 
name of a series of operations is as if one should talk of the 
* horologity ’ of a clock.” 
After these preliminary considerations Dr. Wilson proceeds to 
the various evidences in support of Evolution, taking in succes- 
sion those from rudimentary organs, from the tails, limbs, and 
lungs of animals, from the doCtrine of likenesses (homology), 
from the missing links, from development, from the life-history 
of inseCts, from the constitution of so-called colonial or com- 
pound organisms, from the fertilisation of flowers, from dege- 
neration, and from palaeontology. All these various classes of 
