HEREDITY 209 



suits the individual, that is, to impress on the male 

 and female germinating cells the formula N (A, B, 

 C, D). And, as we have already seen in another 

 place that this formula is, in normal conditions, a 

 harmonic equilibrium in relation to other harmonic 

 laws, the repetition of this formula N would be a 

 natural consequence. If, on the other hand, the 

 formula has lost its normal application and is N' 

 (A', B', C', D'), then the offspring will be all the 

 less like their parents the greater the disproportion 

 of the cellular chemicals ; that is, when once their 

 harmonious relation with the natural laws is lost, 

 the offspring will have a greater tendency to 

 degenerate and wane. 



Iri families that have many offspring there are 

 some of the same type ; these are born in normal 

 times. At others it happens that in the same family 

 there are sons that are unlike ; these must corre- 

 spond to the periods of ill-health of the parents, or 

 of struggle, of upset, of worries and difficulties 

 which unfortunately are so rife in our life, and 

 contribute to change the normal condition of 

 formula N, that is, to neutralise adaptation, and 

 hence heredity. 



Of the theories about heredity, the most scientific, 

 and that which best accounts for the facts, is that 

 of Hillemand and Petrucci : l 



1 Manuel de pathologic generale, L. Moynac, p. 109. 



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