536 Richard J. Anderson, 



this discovery about the same time, as Lord Kelvin discovered. "Cosmic 

 evolution as effected through the degradation of energy which deter- 

 mines the fate of worlds." (Prof. Larmor quoted by Sir W. Thiselton 

 Dyer.) In animate nature "Automatic evolution towards improved 

 adaptation in this case, with no limit or equilibrium in sight, is attained 

 at the cost of dissipation." The appropriation of the energy by living 

 things which may be in part a degradation of it may tend to delay 

 an apparent catastrophe. One organism obtains energy from another. 

 Emitted light and heat, the exhalation of water, or chemical substance, 

 and changes in the electrical condition of one organism may affect 

 another. One may fairly assume that the development of the organs 

 of sense proves the keen appreciation of the importance of appro- 

 priating as much available energy as possible, of which muscle sense 

 is not unimportant. "The earthworm has no eyes yet it sees." Hence 

 the importance of investigating the operations of living organisms, 

 simple and complex, trained and untrained. The great complexity and 

 variety in structure of the central nerve cells (alluded to by Maca- 

 lister) make it appear hopeless to attempt any systematic research 

 that could satisfy those who deal with biological problems affecting 

 individual cells. Electricity and heat are conveyed by the skin, light 

 is received and emitted by certain organs. The spinal cord of amphioxus 

 may have sensitivity for light. Although a slight stimulus (the slightest) 

 may be adequate to evoke enormous activity, the absence of certain 

 stimuli may lead to inaction. The story of the well-fed (inactive) 

 rabbits on one side of the Malverns, and the sparsely fed animals on 

 the opposite side illustrates this. We should, perhaps, sometimes be 

 "placed with our backs, to bright reality, that we may learn with 

 young unwonted ken things from their shadows". One is prepared to 

 accept explanations with reference to media that involve questions of 

 transmission, reflexion, absorption and excitation. Heat (radiated) is 

 emitted, transmitted, absorbed, and the absorbing body is affected. It 

 was said that there are "various finite forms in which infinite sub- 

 stance particularizes itself" 



„His quidem signis atque haec exempla secuti 

 Esse apibus partem divinae mentis et haustus 



