160 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that is, to add forces so as to be changed into other forces. 

 In a word, inheritance is but the transmissal of forces, and 

 inheritance can be general in respect to the whole body, and 

 local in respect to the tissues and parts of the body. 



In the history of the development and in the formation of 

 the spermatozoon we recognize a segregation and localization, 

 — that is, the putting into form of forces ; and when this 

 spermatozoon unites with another cell, — the ovum, under 

 certain conditions, — a union of forces takes place, and, the 

 phenomenon of individual life being superimposed, these 

 forces are able to accumulate and store up the forces necessary 

 in turn for development, growth and future transmissal. The 

 whole form and character of the individual is the equilibrium 

 of the forces which were united to give him birth, and those 

 additional forces added on or influencing during life. If 

 we suppose development and growth taking place, or any of 

 the phenomena attending vitality, without the corresponding 

 expenditure of power, we are involved in an absurdity ; for 

 appropriation of and transmissal of force, not its creation, is 

 consistent with the reign of law, such as modern science 

 recognizes as existing. 



In this place it may be well to define our understanding of 

 force. It is a power which produces change, or acts to change 

 any relations whatsoever between matter, — as the force of grav- 

 ity, cohesive force, centrifugal force, vital force. Modern 

 science has determined that forces, like matter, are indestruc- 

 tible, and that many of them are mutually convertible, and that 

 these mutations are rigidly subject to the laws of quantity. 

 Every manifestation of force must needs come from a pre- 

 existing equivalent force, and must give rise to a subsequent 

 and equal amount of some other force. We have laws govern- 

 ing force as we have laws governing matter. Every change 

 involves expenditure of force. 



As a summary, we may look upon the spermatozoon as a 

 cell, the representative of the organism through which it has 

 been developed ; as one of the individual unities which are 

 freighted with force beyond its own needs, and but requires 

 the suited conditions of union with the proper germs under 

 suitable circumstances, to develop that force. Just as, for 

 illustration, we may consider coal or water as the represent- 



