BOTANICAL SUBJECTS. 41 



If the heat of the flame of a candle at the distance of 1 J mile 

 can be measured, by means of a sensitive galvanometer, as has 

 been stated at the Eoyal Institution ; if the heat emitted by the 

 human hand at the distance of six yards can be measured by the 

 same instrument, as was shoAvn there ; if a bit of sealing-wax 

 rubbed on one's coat and pointed at a fine spray of water, at the 

 distance of two yards can cause the minute globules of the spray to 

 agglomerate into larger ones, as has been repeatedly shown by Lord 

 Raleigh, at the same institution, it would seem very unreasonable 

 to deny to the surroundings of li^Ting bodies any influence in 

 modifying the atomic play of even their innermost cells. The 

 influence of distant stars reaches us somehow,* and therefore it 

 seems hardly possible that the influence of surroundings, in 

 intimate contact with living bodies, should not at least have some 

 part in the modification of such highly plastic bodies, as embryos, 

 however slow their influence may be. 



If we reduce the individual to one of its ultimate elements — 

 such as a simple cell, floating about in water — we shall see at once 

 how important and intimate is the relation of surrounding to 

 individual, and how nicely balanced the individual life must be to 

 its surroundings. In the case of the simple cell, the chemical and 

 physical influences, the electrical and magnetic changes of the 

 surroundings must act either advantageously or disadvantageously 

 on the individual, or at all events must act in some way as to 

 produce a corresponding change in the cell. I^ow, considering 

 that atomic attractions and repulsions are influenced by electrical 

 changes, it will be seen how important a factor of modification are 

 the surroundings, although their influence may be masked by the 

 greater hereditary influence of the two parents. 



Can anyone assert that the development of the arms of the 

 ourang-outang and the atrophy of his lower limbs, have not been 

 influenced by his surroundings — that is, by the life he was forced 

 to live, either to search for food on trees, or to escape from his 

 enemies ? 



Can anyone assert that the development of the legs in man has 

 not been influenced by the upright posture he was enabled to 

 maintain, and that the release of his hands from the function of 



* Even those stars, which are invisible through the most powerful 

 telescopes, can he photographed I 



