The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
1t Demonstrates That
There Is a Scientific
Life Basis.
The Discoverer an Eminent Member
of the California Academy
of Sciences.

Importance OF the histological discoveries
therein outlined, I have only to say that,
if correctly presented, there is no question
that DR.. Eisen has added to scientific
knowledge that which will make his name
familiar to all students of physiology here-
after.
Put plainly the discovery amounts to this:
In both reproduction and cell prolifca-
tion for nutritive or growth purposes, new
cells are provided for by the division or
segmentation of an already existing cell.
In other words, all cells are cell-born, no
spontaneous generation of even the most
humble beginnings of life being admitted.
A perfect type of cell (many believe all
cells) contains nucleus, and within this,
again, nucleolus, or, in reproductive
cells, germinal spot. The division of
cells is brought about by splitting of the
cell-substance, the active agent in which
is the nucleolus OF. centrosome.
The process is we'll described by DIR.
Eisen and need not be repeated here. But
this centrosome, which has been held to
be only an essential portion, or by Others,
only function of cell, by DR.. Eisen's
discovery suddenly reverses its position
and the cell becomes of secondary import
ance-in fact only an annex to this strange
little body. The real point upon which
! turn all the mighty and secret processes
by which life appears and is maintained
is shown to be this centrosome; and the
cell takes quite a secondary position.
| The Importance of this discovery, il
verified, will be most apparent to scien-
fists. and more particularly to histolo-
gists and embryologists. The lay mind,
however, can appreciate the fact that a
taken in the attempt to solve the mys-
terry of being from its physical aspect.
To some of the deductions, how.
ever, the writer begs leave to demur.
For instance, it is implied that the
migrating OF centrosomes to opposite
poles of the nucleus may be a voluntary
act on their part. Tins inference is not
iustiiable and is the result of an over
eagerness on the part of modern scientists
!, to demonstrate physical basis for life; to
leave consciousness, which refuses to be
weighed or measured, out of account.
All such efforts must fail, and not until
scientists recognize the aptness of the old
symbol of the serpent biting It's own tail
Will they ever succeed in solving the riddle
| OF physical existence. Consciousness and
matter must be recognized as coequal and
or the problem is but half solved and the
student fails. For the centrosomes to thus
deliberately change their positions to
bring about cell division would imply
consciousness far exceeding their func.
tions in the animal economy, and would
further imply the body of man to be the
result of the conscious action of entities
infinitely below him in the scale of con-
scious evolution.
In other words, it would be practically
the same thing as to fancy bricks and
mortar in a confused heap suddenly of
their own volitioh sorting themselves out,
each taking its proper position and thus
constructing a BUILDING without the super
vision of an architect, or under workmen.
Electricity is the nearest approach to
that which we recognize as ''vital action"
or life. Many believe it to be a lower
aspect of the same thing. If one studies
the process of cell division in these cuts,
with this idea in mind, he will discover
: many things which remind him OF cleo
!, tricaI action. Two poles. two centers of
: force, evidences of positive and negative
! attraction are plainly apparent.
, Dr. Eisen will, in the opinion of the
S writer, be much nearer the true theory if,
: recognizing the mutual dependence and
lnteraction of consciousness and matter,
he will see in the change in position of his
centrosomes the intelligent result of
electrical (vitaD action directed by and
e from the conscious aspect of a universe
+ which is not all material. This would
: not necessarily mean that man supervises
these functional changes in his own body.
i He does not; but the general mode of
:. action being conceived of Inlet US saw
: the oversoul of the world would be i'm.
+ pressed upon every particle of matter
:, within that world, and each particle, when
d it reached the stage of the cell, would
strive, however blindly, to carry out and
; obey this its inner guiding force.
n For as matter ana consciousness cannot
: be divided Cannot be thought of even as
a separately each particle or atom of sub.
stance would carry with it its infornino
J. soul, thus derived from the impress of tht
It great Over Soul. OF course this imnlies {
II pantheistic conception of the universe
but, unless this is recognized, how is mar
; to ever solve these riddles of the sphinx
is 1t is not what some one else believes bnt
n truth that the scientist wants. and Il i,
e with the honest endeavor to heIp tha
IF these suggestions are offered to suct
}; learned and intelligent students as DIR
IS Eisen.
" his discovery taxes US one step neare
n the physical basis of reproduction and mn
: triton, but this is but half the mystery
,e Unless we believe that the stream can ris,
70 higher than its source; that out of blinC
d force playing through senseless matter al
d the dlylnely conscious states OF compass
,e sion, love, reason and so on, can arise, there
h must be looked for the conscious as vel
as the physical basis of human hopes anC
n tears. Electricity is possible mode o.
= force by which consciousness may ac
= upon and through matter an agent which
- may unite and coordinate these two pole:
q OF absolute unity, and even in the beha
u vior of these mysterious centrosomes may
u u be detected the mode of action OF thi:
d which would seem to be the obedient ser
want of the creative gods.