GERM DOCTRINE OF BONNET. 26 1 



meaning, not our own, we must interpret his definitions from 

 his standpoint just as we did his "natural evolution," his 

 "palingenesia," and other expressions counterfeiting the cur- 

 rent phraseology of to-day. 



The date, place, and connection of the remark are all such 

 as to make it certain that Bonnet was still holding as firmly as 

 ever to the doctrine of preformation. In fact, his very next 

 words are : 



" I have, therefore, tried to apply the luminous and fertile 

 principle of the preordination of beings to animal reproductions 

 of every kind." Then, after briefly recounting the application 

 of his principles to regeneration, buds, and grafts, he again 

 reminds us that "we should not imagine that all the parts of 

 an organized body are precisely the same, en petit, in the germ 

 as they appear, en grand, in the developed whole. 



" I have shown, according to the new discoveries upon the 

 chick, that in the germ all the parts, both external and internal, 

 have forms, proportions, a consistency, and an arrangement 

 which differ extremely from those which they will have later." 

 This is followed by the remark that the germ is understood to 

 cover ^^ every preordination, every preformation of parts capable 

 by itself of determining the existence of a plant or an animal." 



Setting aside the connotations supplied by Bonnet's theory, 

 and ignoring the intent inspiring the whole work, these words 

 might not offend orthodox epigenesists of our times. If such 

 license is inadmissible, then it will not do to impute to Bonnet 

 any radical change of views, and we may confidently expect to 

 find an interpretation consistent with his continued adherence 

 to the doctrine of original preformation or syngenesis. 



Starting with a "feeble sketch" in his youth. Bonnet de- 

 voted the rest of his life to trying to show that the doctrine 

 of germs and the "law of evolution " might be extended to the 

 whole organic creation. He encountered many difficulties, was 

 doubtful at first, and suspicious that his theory might prove to 

 be a " romance," and was on the point of abandoning the whole 

 scheme after reading Buffon's theory; but Haller's work and 

 encouragement gave him confidence, which carried him buoyant 

 over multiplying obstacles, and brought him to the conclusion 



