THEORY OF GERMINAL CONTINUITY 407 



the comparative gratuitousness of any special theory whatever, 

 a paradox which is explained in the succeeding section. 



Apart from the fact that the pangenetic hypothesis is not in 

 harmony with the results of experiments (e.g. on the transfusion 

 of blood), or with what we know of the physiology of cells, it 

 may be pointed out that the facts of inheritance are not such 

 as might be expected if pangenesis were an actual occurrence. 

 If it were, we should look for a frequent recurrence of, or for 

 some specific hereditary influence from, exogenous morbid 

 conditions, especially those associated with marked structural 

 changes for instance, injuries to the brain and spinal cord, 

 cirrhosis of liver and kidney, cirrhotic induration of the lungs 

 from dust inhalation. In fact, after a short series of generations 

 the number of healthy subjects would be reduced to a 

 minimum (Ziegler, 1886, p. 19). 



4. Theory of Genetic or Germinal Continuity 



Owen. As far back as 1849, O wen pointed out in his paper 

 on parthenogenesis that in the developing germ it was possible 

 to distinguish between cells which became much changed to 

 form the body, and cells which remained little changed and 

 formed the reproductive organs. This was probably the earliest 

 distinct suggestion of the modern theory of germinal continuity. 



Haeckel. In 1866, in his classic Generelle Morphologic, 

 Haeckel emphasised the simple and yet fundamental fact of the 

 material continuity of offspring and parent. In an historical note 

 upon the distinction between the " personal " and " germinal " 

 parts of an organism, Rauber states that the distinction was 

 proposed by Haeckel hi 1874, and by himself in 1879. 



Jager. Jager stated the doctrine of germinal continuity 

 very clearly and concisely at an early date : " Through a great 

 series of generations the germinal protoplasm retains its specific 

 properties, dividing in every reproduction into an ontogenetic 



