IV CAPITAL THE MOTHER OF LABOUR 149 



gradients in the right proportions; to give the 

 mixture the proper grain, and so on. The powder 

 once formed part of the stock, or capital, of a 

 powder-maker : and it is not only certain natural 

 bodies which are collected and stored in the gun 

 powder, but the labour bestowed on the operations 

 mentioned may be figuratively said to be incor 

 porated in it. 



In principle, the work-stuff stored in the 

 muscles of the new-born child is comparable to 

 that stored in the gun-barrel. The infant is 

 launched into altogether new surroundings ; and 

 these operate through the mechanism of the 

 nervous machinery, with the result that the 

 potential energy of some of the work-stuff in the 

 muscles which bring about inspiration is suddenly 

 converted into actual energy ; and this, operating 

 through the mechanism of the respiratory ap 

 paratus, gives rise to an act of inspiration. As 

 the bullet is propelled by the "going off" of 

 the powder, as it might be said that the ribs are 

 raised and the midriff depressed by the " going off" 

 of certain portions of muscular work-stuff. This 

 work-stuff is part of a stock or capital of that 

 commodity stored up in the child's organism 

 before birth, at the expense of the mother ; and 

 the mother has made good her expenditure by 

 drawing upon the capital of food-stuffs which 

 furnished her daily maintenance. 



Under these circumstances, it does not appear 



