4397.) Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 177 
to the phenomena of memory as a plausible explanation. Stimuli 
from without and within the organism leave a record in the brain-cells, 
which give the form to consciousness when the latter invades them’ 
along the guiding lines of association. Why should not the germ 
plasma be capable of a similar record of stimuli, which is expressed in 
the recapitulatory growth of the embryo? He thought that the evi- 
dence pointed to such a process. These stimuli affected the soma and 
the germ plasma simultaneously, in accordance with the doctrine of 
Diplogenesis; but that the soma only records results in each tissue 
which are appropriate to the functions of the same, while the germ 
plasma and brain-cells may record them all. The certainty of record 
in both cases he supposed to depend on the frequency and strength of 
‘the impression, as is known to be the case with the memory of the men- 
tal organism. Hence mutilations or single impressions were rarely re- 
corded, while those due to the constant and habitual movements are 
recorded, and furnish the physical basis of growth and of evolution of 
He further remarked that the belief that natural selection originates 
structure could not be entertained, as paleontological evidence shows 
that evolution has proceeded by very gradual additions and subtrac- 
tions of character, which required long periods to become of any value 
‘in the struggle for existence—sometimes an entire geological period 
-being occupied in the elaboration of a character to structural usefulness. 
Finally, he referred to the physical mechanism of mental phenomena, 
-and stated thatsome psychologists require a completed machine in order 
for the performance of special mental function. The speaker called 
attention to the fact that it is highly probable that the fundamental 
‘Sensations do not even require a nervous system for their expression. 
-Thus Protozoa appear to experience the sensations of hunger, tempera- 
ture and the muscular sense of resistance. Hence, it is as true of the 
-physical basis of mental as of other functions that the formation pro- 
duces the structure, while structure merely specializes or perfects func- 
‘tion. 
Professor Wm. James followed from the psychologic point of view. 
-He said that the brain was evidently an organ capable of great varia- 
bility of function, and that variations in new directions were frequent. 
He regarded genius as a form of sporting, and that such sporta fre- 
“quently served as guides to the development of human society. He 
believed that education was of primary importance, and did nos find 
much evidence of the inheritance of characters acquired in this mer: 
He believed on the contrary that mental acquisitions are transmitted 
