262 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



to exercise this virtue by conveying in their material selves the 

 necessary assorted forces for their function. This is the only 

 reasonable conclusion we can come to, for no mere particle of 

 matter can become so endowed by absorbing more inert matter 

 only : it is only the absorption of the necessary forces that can 

 possibly give this endowment. The same vein of argument 

 apphes to Weismann's theory of the Continuity of the Germ- 

 plasm. The germplasm can only be considered to possess its 

 virtue because of an assorted form of energy within itself ; it 

 therefore deserves the more embracing term " germ-energy." 

 Here the assumed mechanism of Weismann's theory shows the 

 characterisitc superimposition of overtones : the assortment of 

 forces capable of building up the organismal entity or pattern 

 are capable as well of building up another potential pattern, 

 which is manifested to us later in the offspring. The mysteries 

 of " variation," " mutation," " reversion," show the mani- 

 festation of these potential portions of the whole assorted 

 complex. Further, in the Mendelian Law itself we have the 

 periodic character of this superimposition — the responsible 

 forces being in every way analogous to rhythmic action and 

 its dependent overtones. 



The next assortment of forces from Biotic to Psychic com- 

 plexity is the logical outcome of this rising assortment. Here, 

 again, the conception of " Bioplasm" and " Psychoplasm " is 

 liable to confusion — for its ambiguity almost presupposes that 

 Force is but a part or attribute of Matter. Here the periodic 

 cycles of the activities of the body, dependent upon the action 

 of the Psychic batteries, is well known to every physiologist. 

 Apart from such primitive rhythms as the vaso-motor functions, 

 the circulatory and respiratory cycles with their accelerator and 

 inhibitory nervous mechanism, we have the higher development 

 of rhythms in the Complex ; the diurnal cycle is represented by 

 the rhythmical variations in the pulse-rate, temperature, and 

 general resistance — the cyclic variations of this last is seen as 

 the daily variation in the " Opsonic Index." The menstrual 

 cycle is another example of a longer cycle. The well-known 

 " periodic or alternating insanities " are examples of the 

 exaggeration of imperfectly understood rhythmical changes. 

 The phenomena of Hypnotism are clearly the result of an over- 

 tone between the operator and the subject, with whom the latter 

 is en rapport. Even the division in psychology between Sub- 

 jective and Objective is slowly giving way before a deeper insight 

 into the workings of the human mind : we are beginning to 

 realise that our conception of an object is the result of an inter- 

 action between the forces in the receiving brain and the impres- 

 sions originated by certain qualities of the forces in and from 

 the object, and transmitted to that brain by its apparatus of 



