354 Karyokinesis 



completely different from those of the other germ, and 

 consequently they are incapable of vibrating together 

 with the same rhythmicity. 



Finally as to indirect or karyokinetic cell division, let 

 us admit that, when each of the two coupled accumu- 

 lators, in consequence of the continual increase of its 

 mass attains too high a potential, the two halves of each 

 of these accumulators will tend to repel each other, just as 

 would for example, the two halves of a conducting sphere 

 or disc, charged with too great a quantity of static 

 electiicity of the same sign. 



If we admit at the same time, that the separation of 

 the two halves of each accumulator would break the cir- 

 cuit of oscillation, as would seem indicated by the rupture, 

 retraction, and disappearance of the meshes of the nuclear 

 reticulum during mitosis, and thus suspend abruptly the 

 oscillating discharge, then the actual energy of this dis- 

 charge still in activity at that moment will become trans- 

 formed into potential energy, and discharge itself upon 

 the first little bit of substance, or centrosome, most 

 capable of receiving it. Consequently, without pretending 

 thus to be able to penetrate into the smallest details of 

 this phenomenon, we understand nevertheless how the 

 vital phenomena of dynamic order, which are due to the 

 oscillating nervous discharge, must then necessarily be 

 followed by phenomena of static order, like those which 

 are characteristic of the karyokinetic cell division. 



We limit ourselves here to recalling only : 



i. Delage's observation that in indirect division the 

 longitudinal splitting of the chromosomes or of the 

 nuclear filament begins before achromatic filaments are 

 present which are capable of exerting upon them any pull 



