352 ACTIONS PERFECT FROM THE FIRST. 



results from the repetition of experiments tried by its owner, 

 indeed implies the correctness of the doctrine that the 

 anatomical arrangement, not only of the nerves ramifying in 

 the tissue or organ, but that of the centres connected with 

 them, also results from their being called into use. For 

 there is a very close connection between anatomical 

 arrangement and function, especially in the case of nervous 

 tissue. By observation, however, it can be clearly proved 

 that a necessary condition of such tissues working properly 

 is, that they pass through, and in order, and at a certain 

 rate, several series of changes, which must all have been 

 completed long before action in any sense became a possi- 

 bility. In truth, as it seems to me, practice and experiment 

 could only begin when the perfect action of such tissues, 

 without any experience, must be not only conceded to be 

 possible, but in certain instances, and these not a few, is 

 actually observed. The movements of the lung and the 

 complex process of respiration are as perfectly performed 

 during the first respiration as after hundreds have occurred. 

 All the tissues concerned went through all their phases of 

 development without even the possibility of being tried at all 

 until the moment of birth at which instant, not only their 

 action, but their full and perfect action, became necessary to 

 the new conditions of life suddenly entered upon. In many 

 other cases there is no reason for thinking that the structure 

 does not act fully and perfectly as soon as its formation is 

 complete. The theory which refers action to inherent 

 property or power, intuition, is surely more in accordance 

 with reason than that which attributes it to experience. 

 The tissue, as soon as its formation is complete, is ready to 

 act, and will act if nothing impedes its action. Even the 



