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subdivides into numerous masses which are arranged in a 

 definite manner, but what determines this is not known. 

 From each of these in pre-ordained order, and with perfect 

 regularity, more are produced, no doubt, according to " laws," 

 but laws Avhich Ave know nothing about, except that they 

 are not physical. As this process of division goes on the 

 resulting masses produce various substances, some having 

 wonderful structure and properties. But the power of each 

 series to produce these peculiar materials, which did not 

 exist before and which cannot be extracted from the food 

 supplied, differs from that of the series which preceded it, and 

 so on until the comjilex structural basis of the organism is as 

 it were laid down. There are masses of bioplasm to form 

 nerve, others to produce muscle, others glands, and so on, 

 all of which have been derived from one common mass ; but 

 the bioj^lasm destined to take part in the development of a 

 gland will under no circumstances produce muscle or nerve. 

 And yet with all this marvellous difference in power, which 

 seems to be somehow acquired as development advances, 

 there is, as far as is known, no difference in matter. The 

 nerve- or muscle-producing bioplasm is, as far as can be 

 ascertained, the exact counterpart of the gland or bone, 

 forming bioplasm, and why one produces one tissue and 

 the other a very different tissue cannot be explained. 



All these different forms of bioplasm have descended from 

 one, which may be regarded as the parental mass, but in regu- 

 lar definite and prearranged order ; so that if from any cir- 

 cumstance the bioplasm which is to form a gland or other 

 organ, or a member, is not produced, and does not occupy 

 its proper place at the right period of developmental pro- 

 gress, that gland, organ, or member will be wanting in this 

 particular organism. The manifestation of power or property 

 to form special parts with special functions occurs in 

 regular order, progressively in one direction only as the 

 germ advances towards the particular jDcrfect form it is to 

 attain. The power once lost can never be regained, although 

 life may continue to be manifested nevertheless, and perhaps 

 more actively than before. — The particles of bioplasm which 

 were to take part in the development say of the brain, do 

 not receive at the proj)er period a supply of nourishment of 

 the right kind or in the proper proportion. A well- 

 developed healthy brain cannot ia that case be formed. The 

 particles may waste and die ; or they may grow for a time 

 and then cease to progress further ; or they may grow, and 

 live, and multiply, and form a great mass of matter, which 

 however will never produce a brain or an organ capable of 



