88 An Examination of Weismannism. 



persistence of rudimentary organs. &c. The doctrine 

 is enunciated for the purpose of constituting one of 

 the foundation-stones of his general theory of evolu- 

 tion. We have now to consider how far the quality 

 of this stone renders it trustworthy as a basis to build 

 upon. 



In the first place, we can scarcely fail to perceive 

 that this doctrine o r the absolute stability of germ- 

 plasm is not only gratuitous., but intrinsically impro- 

 bable. That the most complex material in nature 

 should likewise be the most stable is opposed 

 to all the analogies of nature, and therefore to 

 all the probabilities of the case. 



Again, the germ-plasm, as it originally occurred 

 (and still exists) in unicellular organisms, is supposed 

 to be exactly the same kind of material as now 

 occurs in the germ-cells of multicellular organisms. 

 Yet the very same theory which supposes so 

 absolute a stability on the part of germ-plasm 

 when located in germ-cells (or diffused through 

 somatic-cells), likewise supposes so high a degree of 

 variability on the part of germ-plasm when not thus 

 located, as to represent that all individual variations 

 which have ever taken place in the unicellular 

 organisms — and all the innumerable species of such 

 organisms which have arisen therefrom — have been 

 due to the direct action of external conditions of life ; 

 or. in other words, to the instability of germ-plasm. 

 The very same substance which at one time and in one 

 place is supposed to be so absolutely unchangeable, 

 at another time and in another place is supposed to 

 be highly susceptible of change. 



Lastly — and this is. perhaps, the most curious part 



