property is in animals, the more imperfect is the organiza- 

 tion of their body. How then could the vegetative functions be 

 dependent on the organization?" (J 74, p. 40). 



Admitting that the forces characteristic of organized 

 bodies promote the functions of vegetative life — in particular 

 nourishment, vegetation, and multiplication — Wolff considered 

 that these forces are sufficient bases for the functions 

 mentioned. From this he concluded that "the mechanical causes 

 interfere (where they exist) only accidentally in the activi- 

 ties of the proper vegetative forces and modify the activity, 

 changing ... in particular the results of the form-making 

 (vegetation) , which hence could reach an endless diversity" 

 C5 75, p. 41). 



Wolff's general conclusion he formulated in the following 

 words, in which he simultaneously determined his relationship 

 to animistic vitalism: 



The essential force which is characteristic of plant 

 and animal substance promotes vegetative functions 

 without the participation of organization and without 

 the effect of additional forces . This specific actual 

 force is, apparently, particularly that force which 

 was sought by (Bernhard Siegfried) Albinus, and its 

 existence was admitted by Stahl and is ascribed without 

 basis as its spirit. It represents a special defined 

 relation to the attractive and repulsive forces. 

 t$ 77, p. 42) 



Later, however, Wolff wrote the following: 



So far as the vegetative life of plants and animals 

 depends only on a force, because the organization 

 does not add anything, it is fair to consider this 



(Footnote No. 6, contd) 



organism was dominant in the literature until recently. 

 Only recently, M. A. Vorontsov has given essential 

 indicators of the incorrectness of this prevalent 

 belief (M. A. Vorontsov, "Regeneration of organs in 

 animals" (Regeneratsiya organov v zhivotnykh) , 1949, 

 SOV. NAUKA, pp. 82 - 88). 



110 



