330 HOW TO WORK 



The old idea that a living thing in dying gives rise to a new life 

 has been accepted in too literal a sense. This notion still survives, 

 and is now considered by many to represent the exact truth. It is 

 supposed that before a plant springs from the seed, the latter becomes 

 completely changed, its component substances completely disin- 

 tegrated, and their elements re-arranged. That then these elements 

 become combined to produce new compounds and rearranged to 

 develope new forms. From what has been already stated, it must be 

 obvious that my conclusions are at variance with this doctrine, and 

 that both views cannot possibly be true. So far from considering 

 that a new being can spring from the products resulting from the 

 decay and disintegration of one existing before it, I hold this to be 

 absolutely impossible. From the time when the seed was first 

 developed in connection with the living parent plant to the time 

 when it becomes a perfect living organism, living matter and of a 

 particular kind has not ceased to exist during one moment of time. 

 However dry and however old the seed may be, so long as it con- 

 tinues capable of germination it must contain living matter. The 

 cells and fibres of the growing plant are clue entirely to the growth 

 and multiplication of living particles which were derived from the 

 living matter of its predecessor not to the rearrangement of elements 

 resulting from the disintegration of any mere lifeless compounds 

 entering into the formation of the seed or to the re-arrangement of the 

 elements of substances resulting by the death of any pre-existing living 

 thing. If life which influences matter ceases but for an instant it can 

 never be rekindled in that matter. The fact of continuity in vital mani- 

 festations cannot be argued away. There is absolutely no break, and 

 the new origin of life spontaneous generation is as improbable- 

 may I not venture to say as impossible as the formation of matter 

 anew. 



THE STRUCTURE AND ACTION OF NERVOUS APPARATUS, 



In no department of minute research have I found the particular 

 method of investigation here advocated more useful than in studying 

 the ultimate arrangement of nerve fibres and cells. Our views con- 

 cerning the nature of nervous action will be necessarily much influ- 

 enced by die general notion we may form concerning the origin and 

 distribution of nerves. At this present time there is the greatest 

 disagreement among authorities concerning fundamental questions. 

 It is not even determined Avhether nerves terminate in ends or form 

 continuous circuits, nor whether they influence tissues by reason of 

 their being in structural continuity with them or merely indirectly, in 

 consequence of currents passing along the nerve fibres situated at some 



