, 1876-07-29


II tissiparous generation Gas when a worn,
is cut into several pieces, which scumcn,.
develop into perfect anlmals), aud the
repnirs Of even very slight injury, thcr,
is SO perfect graduation that it is scarce.
ly possible to doubt the two processes
are connected. SIR J. Pogct goes further.
and a'hrms that the "powcrs of olcyelop.
mrnt from the embryo are identical with
those exercised for the restoration from
iriurics-in other words, the powers urc
the same 10y which, wlnn lost, it is re-
covered" Darwin concludes, therefore
TIN, the several forms Of budding. tissipu.
rons generation, the repair of injuries,
AM development ARE all essentially the
res nlts ot rnc and the same power.
The union Of the two sexual elements
seems ut first sight to constitute u broad
distinction between sexual and non.scN-
ual generation. But the conjugation OF
alg,r, "by which process the contents Of
two cells coalcscc in single mass capable
OF Development apparently supplies the
first step toward sexual union, aud il
seems to have been established by cxpcr-
;mcnts, in the pairing of soOspores. that
cnnjugA,ion does in fact graduate into
true sexual reproduction, Moreover the
now well understood cases OF partheno-
genesis ployc that the distinction I've
tive, n sexual and non sexual generators
is not nearly so great MS was formerly
thought, for 0va occasionally, and with
some organisms, frequently become deyeI-
opcd ir,o perfect beings without the con
course nj the male. Indeed, with most
of the lower animals, and even with nam.
mails, the ova "shOw trace Of parthe-
nogc,ic power, for. without being iertil-
lied, they pass through the first stages ot
augmentation" II seems probable that
with the separate sexual elements. def
cient quantity of formative matter is tho
main cause Of their incopacity for pro-
longrd existence, withou, comblning, and
thereby increasing each others bulk.
Thus, in Darwin's view, sexual and non.
sexual rcpropuction do not essentially
differ, and we have indicated some rca-
Sons for believing that the latter phenom-
rnon is identical in principle with the
power Of rcgrowth and development.
Now psychologists agree that the whole
organism contains u multitude of cle-
mental parts which are to great eN-
tent independent ofmc another. Each
orgun," says Claud Bernard, "hns its
proper life, its autonomy; il can dcvol-
opc aud reproduce itsra Sndcpendent OF
the adjoining tissues" According to
German authority, Vircbow, each system
is composed Of an enormous mass Of
minute centres OF action. Every element
has its own special action, and even
though it derive its stimulus to activity
from other parts, yet alone effects the
actual performance Of duties Every
single fibre cell leads sort Of parasitic l..
al existance in relation 30 the rest Of the
body. Every single bone corpnsclc
really possesses conditions Of nutrition
peculiar TO itself" A multitude OF facts
support this view. The spur of cock,
after being inserted in the ear Of an on,
lived tor eight years and attained q
weight Of fourteen ounces, and the aston
ishing length OF about nine inches. The
tail of pig had been graftea' into the
middle Of its back, and reacqaired sensi-
bility. A piece OF periooteum from the
bone OF young dog was inserted under
the skin OF rabbit, and true bone devel-
oPed. Whether, however, each of the
innumerable autonomous elements com
posing every organism isa cell, is Il
doubtful question; but is generally adj
mitted, IA we premise, that given be.
ing is made up OF vast number OF or
ganic units, cellular or non.cellular, all
Of which possess their own proper attri-
butes, and are To n certain extent, indie
pendent of all Others.
Here, then comes Darwin's hypothesis.
It is conceded that the cells or units OF Il
body increased by selfdivisicn or prolif-
Grafton retaining the same nntu,e. But
besides this means OF increase, Darwin
assumes that the units threw of minute
grsnales which are dispersed throughout