daetvin's theory of pangenesis. 109 



tion between the unit of matter and the unit of force 

 in a living organism. The unit of matter, at the last 

 analysis we can reach in unbraiding the living tis- 

 sues, is the structureless naked bioplast. But we 

 know that behind the throbbing, weaving bioplasts, 

 there is a unit of force, co-ordinating their motion. 

 As the plan on which they weave preserves its unity 

 in all stages of development of the animal, we con- 

 clude that the unit of force behind them preserves its 

 unity. Take as many points as you please, there- 

 fore, of these units of matter, and you cannot arrange 

 them unless you have your co-ordinating power be- 

 hind them ; and, therefore, you gain nothing by your 

 theory of elective affinities. 



4. The hypothesis of pangenesis involves several 

 untenable subsidiary hypotheses. 



Professor Delphino, the justice of whose attack is 

 largely admitted by Darwin, points out eight subor- 

 dinate hypotheses which are required by the theory, 

 and that several of them are not tenable. (See Sci- 

 entific Opinion, Sept. 29, 1869, p. 366, and Professor 

 St. George Mivar.t, Genesis of Species, chap, x.) 



The gemmules must have the power, in certain 

 cases, of producing monstrosities ; that is, your elec- 

 tive affinities must be capable of being thrown out 

 of their grooves occasionally. 



The theory does not account for the fact that 

 sometimes certain gemmules, although nourished like 

 other gemmules, do not develop. A generation passes, 

 and the traits of the parents are not in it. In the 

 third generation the traits of the grandparents may 



