A REJOINDER 175 



precisely the same tests that we apply to it in all our 

 experimental cases. We have two antithetic or 

 alternative qualities to deal with. If they are 

 transmitted as segregable characters and they appear 

 in the descendants in certain ratios, we interpret the 

 collective phenomena on the basis of unit-characters. 

 No cases of this kind have, as far as I am aware, 

 been investigated by rigorous Mendelian methods. 

 But still I think there is some evidence which points 

 strongly in the direction of the segregation as unit- 

 characters of these subtle mental differences that 

 distinguish sane men from each other. Let us 

 imagine what would happen to a normal person if it 

 were possible to extract from his nerve cells that 

 which we can all conceive as possibly being a unit- 

 character, namely, the Nissl granules.* What would 

 be the phenomena resulting from such a simple 

 change in the constitution of the nerve cells ? As 

 far as we can gather, from the slight physiological 

 evidence we have before us as to the part played by 

 these granules as sources from which the nerve cells 

 derive their stores of energy, it would not be a 

 simple or single phenomenon, expressed in a single 

 word. They would be a whole group of phenomena 

 indicating profound organic mental and physical 

 disturbances. If this be the case, what validity is 

 there in Miss Wodehouse's contention that the 

 mental qualities which we admire or blame in sane 



* There is no need in this article to deal with the nature of these 

 granules. That they represent a something fi'om which nerve cells appear 

 to derive their energy, is sufficient and acc-urate enough for my present 

 purpose. 



M 



