ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE 



117 



the segmentation of the ovum, which, as we have seen, 

 permit of another and more reasonable explanation. 



In a work called The Evolution of Seas, by Geddes and 

 Thomson, the illustration on preceding page is given of cell- 

 division, suggesting the internal disruptions and rearrange- 

 ments of the nucleus and protoplasm. 



Let us compare that with the lines of force of a bar 

 magnet. 



Fig. 24. 



There is a quite remarkable similarity. We will, 

 however, instead of one, take two bar magnets and arrange 

 them thus and with this result : 



Fig. 25. 



They would repel each other ; the space between the 

 two might be called the achromatic spindle and the 

 magnets themselves the centrosomes. But we should have 

 precisely the same result if for the magnets we substituted 

 two similarly electrified bodies. 



All the body phenomena can be readily and, I believe, 

 correctly explained in the same way, by the law of electrical 

 attraction and repulsion, both as regards intra- and extra- 

 cellular control, and to the best of my knowledge there is 

 no such thing as animal magnetism. 



