234 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



past and today are beyond our comprehension. The idea 

 of a true intellect in anything outside of ourselves, and 

 especially in a microscopic being seems absurd to some 

 people. However, when we study the actions of the cell 

 swimming in the water, or the cell in our brain doing 

 our thinking, we are studying the same individual, but 

 in different situations in life. 



The 'cell in the man's brain occupies the same place as 

 the superintendent of a large railroad, while the single 

 cell in the water occupies the same place as the savage 

 who still roams the forest and hunts for a living. Each 

 one understands his work in life, and each one acts with 

 a purpose. 



A most wonderful experiment to test and prove that 

 every cell of the body has intelligence, as well as the 

 brain cells, can be made with the decapitated frog or 

 headless frog. I have tried it myself several times. Prof. 

 James describes it as follows : 



"As good an instance as can be given is the often quoted 

 instance of the decapitated frog, which can not of course 

 see or feel, and can not consciously perform any move- 

 ment. Yet if a drop of acid is placed on the lower surface 

 of the thigh of the frog in this state, it will rub off the 

 drop with the upper surface of the foot of the same leg; 

 if this foot be cut off, it can not thus act. After some 

 fruitless efforts it gives up trying in that way, seems 

 restless, as though it was seeking some other way, and at 

 last it makes use of the foot of the other leg and suc- 

 ceeds in rubbing off the acid. Notably here we have not 

 merely contractions of muscles but combined and har- 

 monized contractions in due sequence for a special pur- 

 pose. These are actions that have all appearances of 

 being guided by intelligence, and instigated by will, in 



