51 SYMBIOGENESIS 



pathology begins, marks a progress which will be most appre- 

 ciated by those who know well how inadequate and haphazard 

 classifications have often hitherto been. As a reviewer 

 E.F.B. (Dr. E. F. Bashford), in Nature, 7/5/14 (anent a 

 work by Dr. C. P. White on The Pathology of Growth : 

 Tumours), states: 



' ' Pathology is still so often restricted to or actually con- 

 founded with mere morbid anatomy ' ' ; and the same writer 

 goes on to say that a " wider recognition of disturbance of 

 function," a " more wide-visioned outlook on the processes 

 of disease," are required. 



To return, however. "We conclude, therefore," says 

 Prof. Keeble, "that the alga which is the infecting organism 

 of C. rosco ffensis, lives a double life." . . . " As a green 

 cell it is holophytic, that is, it manufactures photosynthetically 

 its food materials. As a colourless cell it is a saprophyte, feed- 

 ing like an animal on ready-made organic material." All 

 this I have now interpreted to mean that the alga, tired of the 

 physiological labour involved in "cross-feeding," chooses the 

 easier and more indulgent mode of " in-feeding " by seeking 

 ready-made organic material. The "infected" animal in 

 turn is similarly inclined to be drawn into short-lived 

 " liaisons " (expedient, but not truly symbiogenetic in value). 

 " Swallowing eagerly all the minute particles that come its 

 way, C. roscoffensis cannot escape its destiny," i.e., of 

 becoming " infected." 



To put it now more explicitly : C. roscoffensis becomes 

 "infected" by certain green cells as the result of morbid 

 inclinations on either side. Gluttony makes strange bed- 

 fellows ! Birds of a feather flock together ! 



Prof. Keeble dwells on the pathetic dependence of 

 C. roscoffensis on the " infecting " organism so great a 

 dependence as to justify, as he thinks, the title of 

 plant-animal ! But what he overlooks is that the title 

 would be more appropriate were the dependence less 

 absolute and duly complemented by reciprocity. The 



