2i8 Natural Salvation. 



germ-plasm as practically to impress the ancestor on the 

 offspring, and virtually reproduce the parent in the child. 

 This view, at least, had the merit of reconciling opposed 

 theories ; and — saving clause — it is not clearly known 

 as yet in what " nervous currents " which reciprocate 

 between the reproductive organs and the rest of the hody, 

 consist, or how fully representative of every organ and 

 tissue of the body they may be. A "nervous current" 

 is a great mystery and involves many unknown quantities 

 and qualities of matter ; it is a fruitful field for investiga- 

 tion. When we are able to analyze a "nervous current," 

 we will know a great deal more about human life than at 

 present. It would not surprise the writer, if a " nervous 

 current " were found to be capable of transferring the 

 image and character of one cell to another. It may prove 

 a stream of an almost infinitely more minute form or type 

 of " gemmules " than Darwin dreamed of, or Weissmann 

 repudiated. 



Then in 1885-86, and for a time, this sense of certitude, 

 this feeling of mastery of the great problem, was given a 

 rude shock, by deductions drawn from the observations 

 of Maupas, confirmed by contemporary biologists. Primi- 

 tive unicellular life was not deathless in any sense, after 

 all. The intimate causes of old-aging were found to be 

 deeper-seated. The unicell was seen to " age " and die. 



