270 Dynamic Theory. 



conveyance of the electrical stimulus to its neighbor molecules, and the 

 whole together as forming a sort of nervous system. Furthermore, it 

 must be conceded that an electrical stimulus propagated throughout the 

 mass of elements composing the animal would tend to establish a cor- 

 relation and correspondence of action between the different elements, 

 so that the movement of one would of necessity influence the rest. 

 Such correlation and redistribution of stimuli is the function of- gan- 

 glions, and is in reality the elementary form of purpose or will. A 

 multitude of ganglions constitute a brain. The Moneron, as a whole, 

 therefore, must be considered not as having but as being a nervous sys- 

 tem, and the correlation of stimuli by which definite and co-operative 

 movement is assigned to his various parts, must be regarded as his men- 

 tal action. 



The reproduction of the animal is accomplished by his simple divi- 

 sion into two pieces fission. When the animal reaches its adult stage 

 it suffers a constriction across the middle, which, gradually deepening, 

 finally becomes a bisection, and the one adult is thus reduced to two 

 infants, each to begin life over again and repeat the experience of the 

 parent. 



We find, therefore, that in this simple animal are produced the phe- 

 nomena of eating, digesting, assimilating, growing, and reproducing its 

 kind, also respiration, contractility and the movement of parts, suscep- 

 tibility to the influence of touch and radiant energy, and finally nervous 

 co-ordination. 



Formidable as this list of powers appears, we should find it difficult to 

 conceive how any animal not a parasite could exist with fewer, and in 

 truth there is none that does. On the other hand, what animal pos- 

 sesses more ? Expanded, developed, differentiated in a thousand ways 

 and a hundred thousand fold they may be and are, yet, after all the ex- 

 pansions and differentiations, their powers are still comprehended under 

 the general terms that describe the powers of this humble animal. The 

 proofs and illustrations of this statement will appear as we advance. In 

 the mean time, assuming it to be proved that, as shown in previous 

 chapters, habit or use has the power to cause the organs concerned in it 

 to maintain or assume such particular conformations and pliabilities as 

 will render them easily responsive to the habitual stimulus, it follows 

 that every new habit (or stimulus), when it is first exercised upon an 

 organ, must be able to move that organ and do something through it in 

 order that any differentiation or change in the organ can ever take place. 

 In other words, if the organ cannot perform the function at all in some 

 sort of a way to begin with, inadequately, indifferently, or badly, it can 

 not be differentiated by the habit at all. Every function must therefore 

 be first badly or inadequately performed by (or upon) an imperfect or- 



