n6 DISCRIMINATIONS CHAP. 



itself to follow the direction given to it, 

 whether from what we call inside or out- 

 side things. 



This is no transcendental imagina- 

 tion, as some might think it. It is a 

 conclusion securely founded on the most 

 certain facts of embryology. It is the 

 great peculiarity of organic development 

 or growth that it always follows a deter- 

 minate course to an equally determinate 

 end. Each separate organ begins to 

 appear before it can be actually used. 

 It is always built up gradually for the 

 discharge of functions which are yet 

 lying in the future. In all organic 

 growths the future dominates the pre- 

 sent. All that goes on at any given 

 time in such growths has exclusive refer- 

 ence to something else that has yet to be 

 done, in some other time which is yet to 

 come. On this cardinal fact, or law, in 

 biology there ought to be no dispute 



