ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE 109 



them. Neither the nucleus nor the nucleolus is non- 

 electrified of that I am sure but during the early process 

 of division the nuclear membrane and the nucleoli disappear 

 or are merged in the skein, and, inferentially, lose polarity 

 for the time being by loss of insulation and consequent 

 diffusion. The moment, however, that insulation is even 

 partially restored polarity would come into play ; and 

 reference to physiological diagrams makes it clear that at 

 this stage of division the two attraction spheres and the 

 two parts of the nucleus are in close proximity, each with 

 the other. 



Assume that the attraction spheres and the nucleus 

 are oppositely electrified, and we can understand why, in 

 the first place, the single centrosome lies as near the 

 nucleus as the structure of the cell permits ; secondly, 

 there being an intervening space between the centrosomes, 

 they should separate at that part, and in the process of the 

 nucleus breaking down repel each other until they form 

 poles at opposite ends of the cell. At that stage the 

 nucleus would be in a condition of temporary disintegration 

 or disarrangement, but as its insulation returned it would 

 regain polarity, and, the pull being exactly equal, we can 

 conceive one- half of it trending, by attraction, to the left 

 and one- half to the right centrosome. Equilibrium would 

 then be restored, and as the exoplasm completed the circle 

 around each of the daughter nuclei, or rather around the 

 protoplasm surrounding each daughter nucleus, the cell 

 should divide by constriction. 



I will endeavour to put it briefly. In its condition of 

 rest, or, as I prefer to say, of development, I assume the 

 centrosome and nucleus to be of opposite polarity. Upon 

 duplication, the two centrosomes move to extreme ends 

 of the cell. The moment the nucleus loses its membrane, 

 and with it its insulation, it becomes similarly electrified, 

 the chromosomes exercise a repulsive influence upon each 



