REPRODUCTION AND DEATH 98 



organic wholes. The divisions of the subject 

 are due, either to the particular organisms 

 studied, or to the particular methods of 

 investigation which we happen to be capable 

 of using to advantage. In so far as we are 

 in earnest with the work, and are not 

 blinded by wrong theories, we are always, 

 both in physiological and morphological 

 investigation, studying an organism as a 

 whole. 



In the case of the higher organisms we 

 are of course dealing with a compound 

 organism ; and we have all shades between 

 highly organised compound organisms and 

 more or less indefinite collective organisms 

 such as a colony or a whole species. In these 

 organisms there is constant active main 

 tenance, constant renewal, constant breaking 

 down and reproduction of the living struc 

 ture ; and this is of the very essence of our 

 conception of life. Reproduction is not in 

 itself a problem, but an axiom ; for all living 

 structure is active structure ; and it lives in 

 actively maintaining itself and reproducing 

 its structure. 



In normal reproduction and death, and in 



