Le Dantec 275 



by another substance ( i ) and so on, in such a way 

 that the whole of the "dynamism" existing in this hetero- 

 geneous mass, finds its expression in a form of equili- 

 brium F, which preserves accurately, without any need 

 of further constraint, those forms of equilibrium which 

 the individual had acquired in consequence of the com- 

 pulsion of external influences. 



"If that were so," continues LeDantec, "this form 

 could not be hereditary. For the substance produces 

 the form F only with the assistance of cells of the sub- 

 stances y and 8 , which are simultaneously present in 

 other elements of the altered individual, and no one of 

 these substances which does not belong to the sum total 

 of the elements is by itself a consequence of the total 

 form F. If then one detaches from this form a few 

 pieces capable of reproducing themselves, these pieces 

 endowed with different substances or heritages will give 

 rise to different individuals, namely to individuals or 

 groups of cells like those whose total constituted the 

 form F, but of which none had this form. There is thus 

 absolutely no reason existing why any one of these 

 individuals should take the form F. If then observation 

 teaches us that acquired characters can be inherited we 

 are thus obliged to suppose that in the case in which 

 they are hereditary they were acquired by the parent 

 organism in a homogeneous manner." 208 



Thus if it were possible to explain this inheritance 

 and at the same time to accept, nevertheless, the most 

 complete diversity of the substances constituting individ- 

 ual parts of the organism, LeDantec would be perhaps 

 the first to renounce with joy his single individual sub- 



208 Le Dantec : Ibid. P. 294295. 



