IBfi REVERSION, NOT A LAW, SUI GENERIS. 



and should proceed to estimate a ratio of integration 

 for that crystal, based upon his observation of the 

 degree of reparative power displayed before his eyes ; 

 he would be the perfect analogue of Darwin, who takes 

 truncated organisms, places them under domestication, 

 observes their power of repair, or of Reversion, and 

 then absurdly essays to estimate, what would be the 

 development of such organisms, if a few millions of 

 years were assumed. 



No crystal, nor organic species, is possible to be 

 normally modified, after it has been once evolved. 

 You may truncate the crystal; you may deprive the 

 organic species of many of its characters; but a dis- 

 turbance of the integrity of the forces involved, in 

 either case will inevitably result. The only way, 

 either to modify a crystal normally, or normally to 

 change an organic species, is to resolve either into 

 its original elements, then modify the forces primarily 

 involved in its integration, or evolution, and start a 

 new integration or evolution. That, however, is tanta- 

 mount, with an organism, to new creation ; or to primal 

 evolution from inorganic forces and matter. The test 

 of any abnormal.modification of a species, is close inter- 

 breeding. The principal differences between a crystal 

 and an organism are: (i). That a crystal- is not sus- 

 ceptible to that ebb and flow which we find manifested 

 in an organism, in the waste and repair of its tissue. 

 (2). That the crystal, though capable of integrating a 

 like form when a portion of its substance is detached 

 by force ab extra, is not capable of spontaneously ex- 

 uding or detaching a portion of its substance for the 



