PHYSIOLOGY Ixxiii 



once more the part in question, and restore to it its orgasm 

 and readiness for a new contraction on application of a nevr 

 stimulus. 



Lamarck regarded life as synonymous with " vital move- 

 ments," that is to say, with the movements of the visible 

 contained fluids through the supple containing parts. The 

 function of the " exciting cause " is purely to keep the fluids 

 moving, though exactly how it does this is left unexplained. 

 But the entire phenomena of life, its origin, development, 

 and evolution, are attributed by Lamarck to the movement 

 of the fluids through the solids, under the mysterious influence 

 of the exciting cause. 



As regards the origin of life, Lamarck held that it came 

 about in this way : gelatinous or mucilaginous particles are 

 lying about in nature : it happens that some of these consist 

 of solid and fluid parts, and are in all other respects fitted 

 for the reception of life ; thereupon the subtle invisible 

 fluids, which he imagined to be spread everywhere over the 

 surface of the earth penetrated these particles, and acted as 

 the " exciting cause " which starts the visible fluids moving 

 through the supple solid parts : and that is the commence- 

 ment of life. The particles of gelatinous character become 

 primitive animals ; those of mucilaginous character become 

 primitive plants. 



When once the fluids begin to move, they soon create hollow 

 spaces or " cells " within the solid matter ; and Lamarck 

 very warmly defended the theory that all organic matter is 

 either cellular or the product of cells. In this respect he 

 entirely anticipated Schwann ; unfortunately his cellular 

 theory was mixed up with too many crudities to secure 

 the scientific approval of his time. This is but one instance 

 of many in which Lamarck anticipated the knowledge of 

 a future age. 



Lamarck, having accounted for the origin of life by 

 means of the " vital movement " of the visible or essential 

 fluids, proceeds to account for development on the same 

 principle. The fluids carve out canals and hollows of all 



