HEREDITY 



state he has legs just where legs ought to 

 be and complete in every bone thereof, but 

 as they are now no longer usable in the 

 ocean where he lives, they are deeply im- 

 bedded under his skin, much as an English 

 nobleman of ancient lineage hangs up in 

 his halls the coats of armor of his ances- 

 tors, as mementos of days long gone by, 

 on account of rifle bullets. 



But a physical atom or ion with the at- 

 tribute of heredity is as unthinkable as 

 hereditary hydrogen. We must therefore 

 take leave here from matter and all its 

 known properties, and restrict our atten- 

 tion to the familiar forces above men- 

 tioned, which play on matter according to 

 their well ascertained laws. All admit 

 that these forces are themselves lifeless, 

 but it is imagined that somehow they can 

 vivify matter and make it living. This is 

 momentariiy thinkable, but soon ceases to 

 be so when we are really confronted with 

 43 



