176 Causes and Course of Organic Evolution 



that continued the hereditary characters of the original organ- 

 ism. In Hke manner the halves or smaller ])arts of a crystal, 

 that have been separated by ice action or by chemical change, 

 may be carried to a distance, then recrystallized by accretionary 

 addition of particles from an appropriate solution or pabulum, 

 so as to regain their original size. But even more exact hered- 

 itary relations are traced when we study the growth and multi- 

 plication of Traube's cells or other inorganic colloid mixtures. 

 Now the molecular sameness of carbonate of lime crystals, 

 of colloid gelations, or of Traube's cells remains absolutely 

 and hereditarily true so long as they are retained in exactly 

 like environal conditions. But if, by chemical substitution 

 of even one molecule at some point in these, a new body chem- 

 ically is formed, then a new and different hereditary com- 

 bination ensues. If however we merely vary the degree of 

 concentration of the colloid substances used, in such experi- 

 ments as those of Leduc (23: 125), different sizes and shapes 

 of colloid films wdll be obtained, that will remain hereditarily 

 true to the new concentration states. So three possible states 

 hereditarily may be traced in inorganic colloids. First, given 

 a definite concentration of two or more substances that can 

 start Traube's phenomena, and given an exactly unaltered 

 play of chemical or other energy on these substances, like 

 growth mil ensue, and like multiplication by division and for- 

 mation of new masses will be carried out. Second, if the sub- 

 stances remain the same but the degree of concentration of 

 one or more of the substances be altered, and so also the lines 

 of energy-flow be thus changed in intensity, direction, or other- 

 wise, different sizes or forms of film cells will arise, which as 

 in the first case will remain hereditarily true. Third, if the 

 chemical composition of one or more of the substances be 

 changed, then new forms will be built up that will differ from 

 the first not merely as does the second, but which, in chemical 

 composition, in osmotic relation to other substances, and in 

 response to environal stimuli, will show fundamentally different 

 characters, that will be transmitted to new masses arising 

 from such, if continued in the same chemical environment. 



