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purpose is found in the oft-repeated comparison with the system 
of the electric telegraph. This well-known comparison is justified 
not only by the whole arrangement of the soul-apparatus, but 
especially by the fact, that in the action of this apparatus, actual 
electric currents do play the greatest part. The comparison 
however does not attain its full significance until by the aid of a 
strong magnifying power we have recognised the finest components 
which constitute that apparatus. The microscopic elementary 
forms or building stones of the soul-apparatus, are none other 
than those of which the remaining organs of the animal body 
consist, the so-called ‘‘cells.” Here, therefore, as everywhere in 
natural history, we have the cell theory established forty years 
ago by Schleiden and Schwann, which serves as a master key to 
open to us the first gate of deeper knowledge. Various then as 
appear the countless forms of small cells in the various textures of 
the bodies of plants and animals, nevertheless all agree in this 
important particular—that each single cell possesses a definite 
degree of individual independent existence of its own, has its own 
form, and leads its own life. As Briicke says, well hitting the 
point—each microscopic cell is an elementary organism, or an 
individual of the first rank. Yes, as we shall presently see, we 
may even attribute to each cell an independent psyche, a ce//-soul. 
Countless as the stars in the heavens are the endless myriads 
of cells which constitute the giant body of a whale or an elephant, 
an oak or a palm. And yet the gigantic body of these largest 
organisms, as much as that of the invisible dwarf body of the 
smallest, consists in the beginning of its existence only of a single 
little egg-cell, to the naked eye invisible. Once, however, this cell 
begins to develop, and there arises from it through manifold 
division, in the shortest space of time, an enormous mass of similar 
cells. These are distributed in leaf-like layers, the so-called germ- 
leaves. At first all cells are alike ; each single cell is of the very 
simplest form and constitution: a round, soft little ball, like white 
of egg, or lump of protoplasm inclosing a more substantial kernel. 
Soon, however, arise dissimilarities or differentiations: the cells 
begin in the work of life to split up, and to assume various forms and 
