188 
47 The contrast between a living man and a statue is, then, 
very instructive as to the points we are considering. Both are 
continually losing particles of matter; but the living body is 
continually replacing these by an organization which keeps up 
from childhood to old age the identity of the body, repairing 
its losses, retaining the specific type throughout Let ™ 
imagine our statue firmed of protoplasm, and of this formihed, 
“ vacuolated,” “ differentiated,” “ nucleated to the utmost per- 
fection, and, moreover, provided with all the « subtle influences 
we can command, whether of electricity, magnetism, or any other 
force, and we should have a structure not only incapable ot 
thought or action, but tending rapidly to dissolution ; and with 
so much the greater rapidity, as the “forces” were accumu- 
lated within. “Something is wanting” of a totally^ diflfeient 
nature to the above forces, and this something is life. 
48. The notion of a crystal having any properties akin to 
those of a living structure appears to me to indicate entire 
ignorance of the first principles of crystallography, or even ot 
49 A " further contrast is shown by the absolute certainty 
and uniformity of action exhibited by the chemical, mechanical, 
and correlative forces. These, in their operation, are fixed as 
fate,” and the slightest deviation from their ordinary course 
would constitute a miracle. . , , , • t . 
50. On the other hand, nothing is more remarkable in the 
operations of life than the tendency to vary within certain 
limits ; and also to incompleteness ; or even (as it seems to us) 
error, in carrying out the purpose toward which the efforts of life 
are directed. Of the myriad buds of spring, liow few are able to 
mature their fruit, even if they have succeeded m opening their 
blossom. In how few specimens of the human race are t e 
right and left halves of the body equally well developed. How 
numerous, both in the vegetable and animal creation, are a 
kinds of what we call malformations, serving no very manifest 
purpose of utility; and leaving to the theologian a large pro- 
vince in which to exercise his skill; or perhaps, I should rather 
say, his faith. , < . A 
51. Into this province I do not propose to enter; bu 
demonstrate the irreconcilable diversity between the operations 
of life and those of chemical or other force. 
Analysis , 
52. Having pointed out some of the more obvious contrasts 
* \ei7TETCll TL Evdor. 
