A Mechanico-Physiological Theory of Organic Evolution

Part 1

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A MECHANICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL THEORY OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION

BY CARL VON NAeGELI

SECOND EDITION

CHICAGO THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING CO. 1914

COPYRIGHT, 1898 BY THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING CO. CHICAGO

PREFATORY NOTE.

Mr. V. A. Clark, as a student in horticulture in the University of Vermont, first undertook a critical examination of Naegeli's Mechanico-Physiological Theory of Evolution as a part of his regular junior work. After a half year's study and the preparation of a short thesis, Mr. Clark had become so far intimate with Naegeli's work as to make it seem best for him to continue the study through his senior year. This study involved extended translations from the text, including Naegeli's Summary, which, considering its difficult accessibility to American students, has been chosen for publication. The work has been done chiefly by Mr. Clark, but has all been under my immediate supervision, and I have given the whole matter a final restudy and revision. Those who have had any experience with similar work will know how impossible it is that all mistakes should have been avoided, and it would be a kindness to the translators if readers would point out any defects, in order that they may be corrected.

F. A. WAUGH.

University of Vermont, July 1, 1898.

A MECHANICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL THEORY OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION.

SUMMARY.

In this summary I shall in general pursue a course the reverse of that which my main work follows. I shall proceed from the primitive, unorganized condition of matter and endeavor to show how organized micellar substance has arisen in it, and how, from this micellar substance, organisms with their manifold properties have arisen. Since such a synthesis of organisms out of known forms of matter and force is still far removed from a conclusion strictly in accord with physical law, the process becomes comprehensible and obvious only by exact knowledge of the discussion that has preceded. Although the synthetic method reveals more clearly the weaknesses of the theory than do analytic investigations, yet I considered it helpful to make this presentation in order to give a clearer idea of the mechanico-physiological theory, and at the same time to test its worth.

See Appendix, Translators' Notes.

1. FORMATION OF UNORGANIZED BODIES (CRYSTALS).

When separated and promiscuously moving molecules of any substance in solution or in a melted condition pass into the solid form by reason of removal of the causes of separation and motion (warmth or solvent), they arrange themselves into solid masses impermeable to liquids. These minute bodies grow by accretion, and when molecular forces are permitted to act undisturbed, assume the regular outer form and inner structure of crystals. The number of crystals, their size, changes of form and growth, all depend on external conditions.

2. FORMATION OF LIVING ORGANIZED (MICELLAR) BODIES.

Certain organic compounds, among them albumen, are neither soluble, despite their great affinity for water, nor are they fusible, and hence are produced in the micellar form. These compounds are formed in water, where the molecules that arise immediately adjoining each other arrange themselves into incipient crystals, or micellae. Only such of the molecules as are formed subsequently and come in contact with a micella contribute to its increase in size, while the others, on account of their insolubility, produce new micellae. For this reason the micellae remain so small that they are invisible, even with the microscope.

On account of their great affinity for water the micellae surround themselves with a thick film of it. The attraction of these micellae for matter of their own kind is felt outside this film. Hence the micellae with their films unite themselves into solid masses permeated with water, unless other forces overcome attraction and re-establish a micellar solution (as in albumen, glue, gum), where the slightly moving micellae show a tendency to cling together in chain-like and other aggregations. Very often there are found, especially in albumen, half liquid modifications intermediate in fluidity between the solid masses and the micellar solution.

The internal and external constitution of micellar bodies depends essentially on the size, form and dynamic nature of their micellae, since these efficients condition the original arrangement of the micellae and the insertion in proper order of those formed later. External conditions have slight influence on structure, and affect outer form chiefly in so far as they can mechanically hinder free development.

The micellae of albumen or plasma are susceptible of the greatest diversity of form, size and chemical composition, since they originate from unlike mixtures of various albumen compounds, and besides are mixed with various organic and inorganic substances. For this reason the plasma behaves, both chemically and physically, in many unlike ways, and in consequence of the variable relation of the micellae to water, the plasma shows all degrees of micellar solution up to quite solid masses.

3. SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. LIFE. GROWTH.

If molecular forces are so combined in an inorganic substratum that spontaneous formation of albumen takes place, then by the combination of the micellae the primordial plasma masses of spontaneous generation are given. Within these plasma masses the production of albumen goes on more easily under the influence of their molecular forces than in the liquid without. Hence the compounds present in the organic substratum and capable of forming albumen enter preferably into the masses of plasma, and by intussusception of micellae of albumen, cause growth. Here life exists in its simplest form. (See page 47.)

Spontaneous generation presupposes the origin of plasma-micellae from molecules, and hence cannot be brought about by solutions of albumens or peptones, since these are micellar solutions. Life presupposes the intussusception of plasma-micellae; hence it ceases as soon as the arrangement of micellae is so far disordered by injurious influences that that process of growth becomes impossible.

The resulting organism must be perfectly simple, a mass of plasma with micellae as yet unarranged, because any organization without a preceding organizing activity is inconceivable. For this reason known organisms cannot have orginated spontaneously; a kingdom of simpler beings must have preceded them (Probien--the sub-organic kingdom).

The growth of the masses of plasma continues as long as the conditions of nutrition are favorable. If these become unfavorable, a resting period (latent life) or partial or total death occurs, according to circumstances (as lack of nutritive material, lowering of temperature, comparative exsiccation). The growth of plants and animals is nothing else than the continuation of the growth begun in the primordial plasma. This growth still continues wherever the primordial plasma exists.

4. PARTIAL DEATH OF THE INDIVIDUAL: REPRODUCTION.

Since the primordial masses of plasma continue to attract nutritive materials indefinitely and apply them to growth, the nutritive materials are used up in one place and another and the substance which is no longer nourished is in great measure disintegrated. A general condition of equilibrium now sets in, in which the viable plasma masses continue to gain just as much in growth as there is dead plasma broken down and changed back into the original nutritive materials.

Part 2

In the primordial condition this balancing process is irregular and accidental and remains so even later in many of the lowest organisms. Little by little it becomes phylogenetically more regular by individuals attaining to a more definite size and term of life, while only the germs detached from them remain viable. This phenomenon known as reproduction has a double origin.

A. The portions of primordial plasma that grow to a more considerable size as soft, half-liquid masses break up by the mechanical action of external circumstances into smaller portions of indefinite number and size. This typifies irregular and accidental reproduction of the lowest order.

In the offspring of the primordial plasma division becomes gradually more and more regular as a result of the increasing organization of the substance, and especially as a result of the formation of an envelope about it, till finally in the microscopically small masses, which are now called cells, division into two parts always appears, after these masses have grown to perhaps double their original size. After division the two halves separate from each other and represent independent individuals.

In the further course of phylogeny the division of the cells into two parts takes place regularly. But the cells remain united to each other and form multicellular individuals, which increase by cell division and which at times in the lowest stages are divided at regular intervals into smaller individuals, perhaps even at last into single cells, but from which there are periodically given off cells that develop as germ cells into new multicellular individuals.

B. Another phenomenon which appears in the primordial plasma or its immediate offspring is the death of the greater part of the plasma under certain unfavorable conditions of nutrition, while the smaller part continues to be nourished at its expense and in that case remains viable during the dormant period.

In the offspring this phenomenon gradually becomes free cell formation, which takes place before the resting stage or before the death of many unicellular and multicellular organisms, and which forms germ cells from a part of the contents of the parent cells.

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