THE ORIGIN OF MAN 213 



(^ It is often assumed that the atomic theory has 

 divested nature of its mystery, and has reduced 

 natural and evolutionary processes to the level of 

 ordinary mechanics. But this is not so. The 

 atomic theory doubles the mystery and the 

 wonder of life. Any artist might mould a bird 

 or beast of clay, but where is the artist who 

 could make so much as a little finger-nail or a 

 single eyelash out of the dancing molecules ^ And 

 yet continually this miracle is wrought. The 

 molecules I take for dinner, the molecules I un- 

 consciously breathe, will find their way to the little 

 finger-nail or eyelash, and will take there their 

 appointed places ; indeed, by molecular mobilisation, 

 the whole body is built up from the ovum. 



( Let us consider even such a minor wonder as a 

 hen's egg. In the egg are quadrillions of mole- 

 cules, arranged as the white and the yolk. In this 

 shape they maintain their molecular integrity and 

 molecular motion for some time, but let some 

 tiny germ of putrefaction enter the egg and they 

 go all to pieces. On the other hand, let the egg 

 be subjected to gentle warmth, i.e. let certain waves 

 of ether beat upon the molecules and a few atoms 

 of oxygen have access to them, and lo and behold ! 

 these millions and millions of molecules change their 

 structure and change their position, and become the 

 tissues and organs, the beak and heart, and eyes 



