216 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



their language any more than we know the language of 

 bees and ants, who also live a social life, like civilized 

 man. Mr. Binet has the following to say about the actions 

 of certain cells : 



"Infusoria placed in a preparation where they are at 

 their ease, swim quietly about; if any sharp excitation dis- 

 turbs them, they accelerate their pace ; those armed with 

 a rigid bristle at the posterior extremity rush precipi- 

 tately onward whenever another infusory chances to 

 touch that tactile appendage. 



"It is not known whether there are many animalcula 

 that perceive the presence of nutriment from a distance 

 and without coming in direct contact with it ; it appears, 

 however, that this is the case with the Didinium which 

 shatters its prey from a distance and without touching it." 



Can you conceive those actions here described by Mr. 

 Binet, as being anything but the ordinary intelligent ac- 

 tions of animals that you know? He describes the "Did- 

 inium" as being able to kill its victim at a distance. Can 

 you conceive of any being who is able to make a gun, go 

 hunting and kill its victim as not being intelligent? 



Those are acts performed by the cell that lives singly 

 and separately in the water, taking care of himself in the 

 best way he can. 



A text book on Physiology describes the cell which 

 does our thinking as follows : 



"Like the functions of all other organs, those of the 

 brain are effected by the cells, which make up the organ. 

 These brain-cells, which are also known as soul-cells, 

 ganglionic cells, or neurona, are real nucleated cells of a 

 very elaborate structure. It is true that the senses are 

 the original source of all knowledge ; but, in orde'r to have 

 real knowledge and thought the specific task of reason, 

 the impressions received from the external world by the 



