THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VEGETABLES AND ANIMALS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5821, 25 November 1879, Page 2

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VEGETABLES AND ANIMALS.

The above was the title of an interesting lecture delivered last night at the Athenaeum by G. G. Gillon, Esq., M. 8., in aid of a fund to provide necessaries for discharged hospital patients. There was a good audience, the room being crowded. George Hunter, Esq., occupied the chair, and introduced the lecturer. Dr. Gillon commenced his lecture by first defining what life is, and said that whether it be vegetable or animal life, it may be said to have a tendency to pass through a series of changes in a more or less definite order. He traced the resemblance which exists between protoplasm and the white of an egg ; and with regard to the question,—What is thought! he advocated a cautious and sure advance of scientific research, and deprecated a tendency to jump at startling conclusions. He quoted from Professor Allman’s utterances at the British Association this year, showing that the great law of evolution is shaping the destiny of our race, but that we must wait for higher faculties to be evolved, which may yet reveal the mystery of thought. He then described the typical vegetable, showing a live plant in illustration of his subject. From this the lecturer proceeded to the points of distinction between animals and vegetables, alluding at length to two carnivorous plants, the “ Sundew" and “ Venus Elytrap.” He also showed the influence of poison on the sundew. He then explained by means of illustrations the lower forms of animal and vegetable life, describing the vinegar plant and the yeast plant, the circulation of fluid in plants, and the development of the oedogonum, a seaweed. An illustration of the sea cucumber was then shown, after which the doctor proceeded to enlarge upon the sponge family, to which he allotted a place among tho lower animals. He also displayed an excellent illustration of a “Portuguese man-o’-war,” a little animal often seen floating upon the ocean with a small sail set. He explained what is meant by the floral clock, which shows the different times of day by means of plant movements, and then proceeded to describe the formation of the animal tissues, and the presence of the proplasmatic cell everywhere, showiog the likeness which exists between an animal like an elephant and a plant in their embryonic condition. He shortly alluded to the doctrine of development, and left it an open question whether each species was a distinct active creation or no, but thought that did not in one whit detract from the wonder of such creation. The lecturer concluded his subject with the following lines from Schiller— All thin!i '• resemblance—none is the same as And tv. - oiap'.ete points to a wonderful Points to a sacred riddle. The proceedings closed with the usual vote of thanks.