246 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [Chap. 



Pangenesis of the individual is a term Avithout meaning. 

 If, in contemplating an animal of high organization, we 

 regard it purely as an aggregation of developed gennnules, 

 although these gemmuies have been evolved successively 

 one after the other, and one within the other, notwithstand- 

 ing they elude the conception of tlie real and true indi- 

 vidual, these problematical and invisible gemmuies must 

 be regarded as so many individuals. Now, that real, true, 

 living individuals exist in nature, is a truth which is persis- 

 tently attested to us by our consciousness. Ihit how, tlien, 

 can we explain that a great quantity of dissimilar elements, 

 like the atoms of matter, can unite to form tliose perfect 

 unities which we call individuals, if we do not suppose the 

 existence of a specific principle, proper to the individual 

 but foreign to the component atoms, which aggregates these 

 said atoms, groups them into molecules, and then moulds 

 the molecules into cells, the cells into tissues, the tissues 

 into organs, and the organs into apparatus ? " 



** But, it may be urged in opposition by the Pangenesists, 

 your vital principle is an unknown and irresolute x. This 

 is true ; but, on the other hand, let us see whether Pan- 

 genesis produces a clearer formula, and one free from 

 unknown elements. Tlie existence of the gemmuies is a 

 first unknown element ; the propagative attinity of the 

 gemmuies is a second ; their germinative atFmity is a 

 third ; their multiplication l)y fission is a fourth — and 

 what an unknown element ! " 



" Thus, in Pangenesis, everything proceeds by force of 

 unknown elements, and we nuiy ask whether it is more 

 logical to prefer a system which assumes a multitude of 

 unknown elements to a system which assumes only a 

 single one ? " 



