238 A. T. SCHOFIELD, KSQ., M.D., KTC, ON 



analysed, all leads upwards towards one and the same 

 conclusion — the source of all power is uiiud. And that 

 philosophical conclusion is the apex of the pyramid which 

 has its foundation in the primitive instincts of humanity." 



it would thus appear we cannot define where psychic 

 action begins, for however far we travel down in the scale 

 of life, psychic action is seen. " Entirely ignorant as we 

 are." Maudsley remarks, "we certainly cannot ventm-e to set 

 bounds to its power oA^er those intricate and insensible 

 molecular movements which are the basis of all our visible 

 bodily functions . . . There are many more things in the 

 reciprocal action of mind and organic elements than ai^e yet 

 dreamt of in our philosophy."* 



Regarduig the unicellular organism Professor W. H. 

 Thompson in his Belfast address in 1894 actually says, "The 

 amoeba present active and spontaneous movements, and here 

 one not only meets with a power of choice, but also an 

 intelligent consciousness in selecting food." 



Maudsley observes, " An organism plainly has the power 

 (call it intelligent or call it what you will) of feeHng and 

 eschewing Avhat is hurtful to it, as well as of feeling and 

 ensuring Avhat is beneficial to it.'"t 



Perhaps one instance of this may he given. Romanes 

 observes.t " No one can have Avatched the moA^ements of 

 certain Infusoria Avithout feeling it difficult to believe that 

 these little animals are not actuated by some amount of 

 intelHgence. There is a rotifer whose body is of a 

 cupshape, provided Avith a very active tail armed Avith strong 

 forceps. I haA^-e seen a small specimen of this rt^tifer 

 attach itself to a much larger one Avith its forceps, the large 

 rotifer at once becomii^g A'-ery active and springing about 

 Avith its burden till it came to a piece of weed. It took firm 

 hold of the weed Avith its own forceps, and began a most 

 extraordinary scries of movements to rid itself of the encum- 

 brance. It (lashed from side to side in all diiections; but not 

 less surprising Avas the tenacity with which the smaller 

 rotifer retained its hold, although one might think it Avas 

 being almost jerked to pieces. This lasted se\^eral minutes, 

 till eventually the small rotifer Avas thrown violently away. 

 It then returned to the conflict, but did not succeed a second 



* Mind and Body, Maudsley, vol. i, p. 39. 



t J bid., vol. i, p. 7. 



\ A nimal Jntelligmce, Romanes, ]). 18. 



