1 88 An Examination of Weismannism. 



active state. This hypothesis is not purely gratuitous, but is 

 supported by observations, notably by the remarkable wander- 

 ings of the germinal cells of Hydroids from their original 

 positions. 



But let us neglect the probability of my hypothesis, and 

 consider merely its logical accuracy. Professor Vines says : — 

 " The fate of the germ-plasm of the fertilized ovum is, according 

 to Professor Weismann, to be converted in part into the somato- 

 plasm (!) of the embryo, and in part to be stored up in the 

 germ-cells of the embryo. This being so, how are we to conceive 

 that the germ-plasm of the ovum can impress upon the somato- 

 plasm (!) of the developing embryo the hereditary character of 

 which it (the germ-plasm) is the bearer ? This function cannot 

 be discharged by that portion of the germ-plasm of the ovum 

 which has become converted into the somato-plasm (!) of the 

 embryo, for the simple reason that it has ceased to be germ-plasm, 

 and must therefore have lost the properties characteristic of that 

 substance. Neither can it be discharged by that portion of the 

 germ-plasm of the ovum which is aggregated in the germ-cells 

 of the embryo, for under these circumstances it is withdrawn 

 from all direct relation with the developing somatic-cells. The 

 question remains without an answer." I believe myself to have 

 answered this above. I do not recognize the somato-plasm of 

 Professor Vines ; my germ-plasm, or idio-plasm of the first 

 ontogenetic grade, is not modified into the somato-plasm of 

 Professor Vines, but into idio-plasm of the second, third, fourth, 

 hundredth, &c. grade, and every one impresses its character on 

 the cell containing it. 



It may be dullness, but I confess that this does not 

 appear to me an " answer " to Professor Vines' criticism. 

 Even though "idio-plasm of the first ontogenetic grade" 

 has to become " idio-plasm of the second, third, fourth, 

 hundredth, &c. grade," before in each of the grades con- 

 cerned it can give origin to the somatic-cells which are 

 distinctive of that grade, I cannot see that it makes any 

 difference (in relation to Vines' criticism) whether we speak 

 of those cells as containing " somato-plasm," or as con- 



