The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-07-11

identical to the primitive moneron.
While the bGthybius and monera thrived
and multiplied countless millions Of
centralized masses of electrons found
their Way in the oceans depths and the
electrolyzation following this coalee-
cence with the Metalloids brought
forth many new forms of life. Ame-
with nucleus-protista
zOophytes and seaweed followed each
other in rapid succession; organic bod
les attained higher structural compli-
cations and with the commencement
of the Silurian period the amphioxus
controlled the denizens of the deep.
This skulless, and almost organizes,
vertebrate presented the first great
morphologicai change in nature'sking-
dom of wonders; it possessed a primi-
tive intestine and kidney ducts, but
its most remarkable feature was the
notechord or cho7d0 dOrsolis-a phe-
nomenal outgrowth that in later ages
merged the electric properties of the
individual nucleolated cells by devel-
oping the brain and nervous system,
controlling and directing the voltaic
energy from common center. 1t will
be impossible to 60 into physiological
details without repeating phylogenetic
facts verbatim and while we are touch
ing on the main stems OF organic life
only it must be remembered that their
origin, from the mOnera up, was not
spontaneous, but evolved thru gradual
morphological changes in thousands Of
strictly heterogeneous forms preceding.
The terrific heat of the suns rays,
during the Silurian period, brought to
view many of the higher prominences
on the earth's surface, and with the
dawn of the Psl@olithic epoch an en-
tirely new fora aud fauna was -four
ishing. Vast deposits of nitrogen.
stimulated into greater activity by the
absence of water, added fertility to
the soil that has never been equaled
in any age Of the earth's history. The
Devonian period in this epoch is noted
for the rapid growth and gigantic pro-
portions of its forests of ferns which
were subsequently inundated by sec
ond deluge precipitating marvellous
electrolytical changes whose action
formed immense beds of coal. The
scene again shifts to an immense ex-
p2nse of water that characterized the
entire age of coal but, in the thousands
of years in its passing, nature was not
at rest, for the succeeding generations
of the primordial amphioxus under
went many, morphological as well as
physiological, notifications, leaving
countless intermediate forms behind
the grand progenitor of man; namely,
the Selachii, or primitive fish.
In the later Permian period, follow
ing the age of coal, the parent stems
of the Selachii attained their highest
development; they had the power of
choice in movement and, consequently,
retained their balance at will. Their
antecedents, however, from the bGthy-
bias up, exercised the power of choice
in feeding only, and altho many of the
organisms were provided with ella
so-called swimming hairs, their move
ments we're not voluntary nor their
equilibrium certain in turbulent wa
ters. This is true of all skulless ami
, mails owing to the absence of the
organs of orientation and equilibrium.
; The primitive fish, the first known ver-
tebrate was, comparatively, highly or
ganized and, altho rudimentary, every
organ had its physical differentiations.
From the tiny swelling at the head Of
the chordG dOrsGlis, common IN all
chorda animals, the Selachii developed
three and later five protuberances,
called brain bladders. The brain was,
probably, an accident that accrued
from surplus voltaic energy thrown off
: by the medtlIG SpinaliS of the nOt0-
chord and which had no other outlet
! after the formation of the Uranium.
This theory is receiving much atten-
tion in physics at the present time and
while recalcitrant to the popular fall
lacies it affords food for thought worthy
of any thinker.
In the Trisssic period of the Meso-
lithic epoch these five brain bladders,
in the lower fishes, attained their high
! est development, simultaneously evolv-
ing the nervous system and triangu-
lar swelling on the medulzG capitis,
VI CONTINUED on page four.l