DOES ACQUIRED VIGOR COUNT? 269 
organisms; the hypothesis is that this is reflected 
in increased initial vigor in the offspring. Filled 
with enthusiasm for this theory—unproved though 
it be—Mr. Bonhote looks forward to far-reaching 
effects on mankind when the importance of nurture 
is realized. “ When it is once realized that char- 
acters may be largely eliminated by environment, 
if brought to bear early enough, we have open to our 
vision possibilities far greater than any offered by 
the actual work of Mendel.” This much of quota- 
tion will seem to many so profane that we dare not 
continue it. From our point of view it is not in 
any way profitable to pit against one another the 
correlated concepts of “nature” and “ nurture.” 
We believe that any nurture which contributes to 
the development of vigor in the sense indicated 
in the beginning of this article must be progressive, 
and that it cannot begin too soon, since it is an 
individual reward in itself, apart from any off- 
chance of influencing offspring. 
We know experimentally that germ-cells in the 
body of the parent organism may be in a general 
way deteriorated by various influences, such as 
those of radium or alcohol. But we know also that 
it is scientifically dangerous to argue from Rotifer 
to Man, even from Guinea-pig to Man. What is 
certain, however, is that the vigor of the mother 
during the time of ante-natal symbiosis with her 
child is of far-reaching importance. 
