MIND IS FUNCTION 199 



the stimuli of the tissue cells upon the germ cells, the 

 tissue cells having become specialized, in different 

 parts of the body, and produce the peculiarities of the 

 individual. These peculiarities react in some way upon 

 the germ cells, and effect the subsequent chromosomes. 

 The result is, that some acquired characters become 

 hereditary. The question is, which ones? "All charac- 

 ters now congenital have been at some time acquired." 

 (Cope, 1896.) "Inherited variation results from the 

 interaction of external influences, and energies of the 

 chromosomes." (Montgomery.) As said before, varia- 

 tions are said by De Vries to come periodically in the 

 offspring. 



FUNCTION. The energy retained in the matter, form- 

 ing the organism, from the moment the germ cell is 

 fertilized, and the cells begin to multiply, until its 

 maturity, that is not dissipated in its growth, and de- 

 velopment, forms the function of the subsequent or- 

 ganism. Psychical function is the continuing adapta- 

 tion of the organism to relations in its environment. 

 It is the individual's perception of phenomena, by the 

 continuity of images perpetually produced, by the 

 psychical patterns of the brain. As this adaptation 

 enlarges, and becomes more complex, it is necessarily 

 accomplished by an enlarged and more complex struc- 

 ture, of the matter of the organism. The two Condi- 

 tions are inseparable. 



Considering the first formation of a nerve, in the 

 course of biological evolution, as the beginning of a 

 higher quality of mentality, than that existing without 

 nerve structure, it was, of course ; a variation favorable 

 to the organism, in its struggle for existence. Natural 

 selection would perpetuate this favorable variation; 

 and progeny, inheriting the variation, would naturally 



