126 FKAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



of man no structure ? Assuredly they have ; but what 

 can the microscope make of it ? Nothing. It cannot 

 be too distinctly borne in mind that between the micro- 

 scopic limit, and the true molecular limit, there is room 

 for infinite permutations and combinations. It is in 

 this region that the poles of the atoms are arranged, 

 that tendency is given to their powers ; so that when 

 these poles and powers have free action, proper stimulus, 

 and a suitable environment, they determine, first the 

 germ, and afterwards the complete organism. This first 

 marshalling of the atoms, on which all subsequent 

 action depends, baffles a keener power than that of the 

 microscope. When duly pondered, the complexity of the 

 problem raises the doubt, not of the power of our instru- 

 ment, for that is nil, but whether we ourselyes possess 

 the intellectual elements which will ever enable us to 

 grapple with the ultimate structural energies of nature. 1 

 In more senses than one Mr. Darwin has drawn 

 heavily upon the scientific tolerance of his age. He 

 has drawn heavily upon time in his development of 

 species, and he has drawn adventurously upon matter in 

 his theory of pangenesis. According to this theory, a 

 germ, already microscopic, is a world of minor germs. 

 Not only is .the organism as a whole wrapped up in the 

 germ, but every organ of the organism has there its 

 special seed. This, I say, is an adventurous draft on 

 the power of matter to divide itself and distribute its 

 forces. But, unless we are perfectly sure that he is 



1 'In using the expression "one sort of living substance" I 

 must guard against being supposed to mean that any kind of living 

 protoplasm is homogeneous. Hyaline though it may appear, we are 

 not at present able to assign any limit to its complexity of struc- 

 ture.' Burdon Sanderson, in the 'British Medical Journal,' January 

 16, 1876. 



We have here scientific insight, and its correlative caution. In 

 fact Dr. Sanderson's important researches are a continued illustra- 

 tion of the position laid down above. 



