14 GERMINATION 



final problem of histology — is still far in the distance. We 

 cannot get within miles of it." 



The secret of the whole matter, the constant generation 

 of nerve force within the animal organism, has hitherto 

 not been discovered, or at least, admitted. I will endea- 

 vour to add to our knowledge of the subject. 



In what is termed its " resting " stage, but really during 

 development, the cell presents the following appearance : — 



A/uc/eo/us w 



A/i/c/ec/j 



..Centra JO/713 



Before entering upon explanation I must premise that 

 the acuating force is not electricity as we understand it, 

 but a cognate and, I believe, a more subtle and powerful 

 force. As, however, we are not able to define its exact 

 nature we will continue to call it electricity. 



In the blood is an iron-containing substance knowTi as 

 haemoglobin. Iron is fifth in the list of electro-positives. 

 Oxygen is the most active of practicable electro-negatives. 

 The oxygen intake of man, during the daytime, is 

 400cc. per minute. In the lungs, therefore, are all the 

 elements necessary for the generation of electricity, and 

 the blood-stream being the carrier of energy as well as of 

 oxygen, and iron being present in everj^ cell, it follows 

 that not only is " vital force " circulated throughout the 

 body but that a measure of independent generation proceeds 

 In every individual cell. The brain, receiving as it does 

 six times more blood than any other part, except the 

 thyroid gland, is the seat of highest potential, but ^vlth 

 that we are not presently concerned. 



And now let us ponder figure 1. 



The exoplasm is an enveloping insulating membrane 

 or capsule, designed principally to conserve the energy of 

 the cell, and the cell itself is a species of Leyden jar, capable 



