1893 'EXAMINATION OF WEISMANNISM ' 343 



any more work at present or, I fear, in the future. 

 It was a stroke of paralysis of the ordinary hemiplegic 

 kind ; and although I have now recovered to the 

 extent of being able to crawl about a little, I am but 

 a wreck of my former self. Moreover the doctors 

 prohibit work of every kind, so that my misery is 

 absolute, all my experiments have come to an un- 

 timely end, and it is improbable that any of my half- 

 written books can ever be published. 



I am most of all disappointed about my theory of 

 ' Physiological Selection,' for which I have accumu- 

 lated a large mass of evidence during the last seven 

 years, and which I had hoped would satisfy most 

 people as an explanation of the contrast between 

 natural species and artificial varieties in respect of 

 cross-sterility. 



As regards Weismannism, you will see that I have 

 not dealt with the question of acquired characters in 

 my 'Examination.' For, as this question has been 

 vividly before me during half my life, I cannot allow 

 that it belongs to ' Weismannism.' In his writings 

 it is a sort of Lip van Winkel. But my own treat- 

 ment of this long-standing question is almost ready 

 for press, and I hope it may be published before your 

 gathering up process begins. My condition, however, 

 is now so precarious that I scarcely expect to live 

 long enough even for this. 



With our united kind regards to Mrs. Huxley and 

 yourself, 



I remain, yours very sincerely, 



GEO. J. ROMANES. 



