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generations； and we can impose no limit on the results achievable by
accumulation in this respect； nor shall we be wrong in conceiving it
as possible that all specialisation； whether of structure or
instinct； may be due ultimately to habit。
How far this can be shown to be probable is； of course； another
matter； but I am not immediately concerned with this； all I am
concerned with now is to show that the germ…cells not unfrequently
become permanently affected by events that have made a profound
impression upon the somatic cells； in so far that they transmit an
obvious reminiscence of the impression to the embryos which they go
subsequently towards forming。 This is all that is necessary for my
case； and I do not find that Professor Weismann； after all； disputes
it。
But here； again； comes the difficulty of saying what Professor
Weismann does； and what he does not； dispute。 One moment he gives
all that is wanted for the Lamarckian contention； the next he denies
common…sense the bare necessaries of life。 For a more exhaustive
and detailed criticism of Professor Weismann's position； I would
refer the reader to an admirably clear article by Mr。 Sidney H。
Vines； which appeared in Nature； October 24； 1889。 I can only say
that while reading Professor Weismann's book； I feel as I do when I
read those of Mr。 Darwin； and of a good many other writers on
biology whom I need not name。 I become like a fly in a window…pane。
I see the sunshine and freedom beyond； and buzz up and down their
pages； ever hopeful to get through them to the fresh air without；
but ever kept back by a mysterious something； which I feel but
cannot either grasp or see。 It was not thus when I read Buffon；
Erasmus Darwin； and Lamarck； it is not thus when I read such
articles as Mr。 Vines's just referred to。 Love of self…display； and
the want of singleness of mind that it inevitably engendersthese；
I suppose； are the sins that glaze the casements of most men's
minds； and from these； no matter how hard he tries to free himself；
nor how much he despises them； who is altogether exempt？
Finally； then； when we consider the immense mass of evidence
referred to briefly； but sufficiently； by Mr。 Charles Darwin； and
referred to without other； for the most part； than off…hand
dismissal by Professor Weismann in the last of the essays that have
been recently translated； I do not see how any one who brings an
unbiased mind to the question can hesitate as to the side on which
the weight of testimony inclines。 Professor Weismann declares that
〃the transmission of mutilations may be dismissed into the domain of
fable。〃 ｛38｝ If so； then； whom can we trust？ What is the use of
science at all if the conclusions of a man as competent as I readily
admit Mr。 Darwin to have been； on the evidence laid before him from
countless sources； is to be set aside lightly and without giving the
clearest and most cogent explanation of the why and wherefore？ When
we see a person 〃ostrichising〃 the evidence which he has to meet； as
clearly as I believe Professor Weismann to be doing； we shall in
nine cases out of ten be right in supposing that he knows the
evidence to be too strong for him。
THE DEADLOCK IN DARWINISMPART III
Now let me return to the recent division of biological opinion into
two main streamsLamarckism and Weismannism Both Lamarckians and
Weismannists； not to mention mankind in general； admit that the
better adapted to its surroundings a living form may be； the more
likely it is to outbreed its compeers。 The world at large； again；
needs not to be told that the normal course is not unfrequently
deflected through the fortunes of war； nevertheless； according to
Lamarckians and Erasmus…Darwinians； habitual effort； guided by ever…
growing intelligencethat is to say； by continued increase of power
in the matter of knowing our likes and dislikeshas been so much
the main factor throughout the course of organic development； that
the rest； though not lost sight of； may be allowed to go without
saying。 According； on the other hand； to extreme Charles…Darwinians
and Weismannists； habit； effort and intelligence acquired during the
experience of any one life goes for nothing。 Not even a little
fraction of it endures to the benefit of offspring。 It dies with
him in whom it is acquired； and the heirs of a man's body take no
interest therein。 To state this doctrine is to arouse instinctive
loathing； it is my fortunate task to maintain that such a nightmare
of waste and death is as baseless as it is repulsive。
The split in biological opinion occasioned by the deadlock to which
Charles…Darwinism has been reduced； though comparatively recent；
widens rapidly。 Ten years ago Lamarck's name was mentioned only as
a byword for extravagance； now； we cannot take up a number of Nature
without seeing how hot the contention is between his followers and
those of Weismann。 This must be referred； as I implied earlier； to
growing perception that Mr。 Darwin should either have gone farther
towards Lamarckism or not so far。 In admitting use and disuse as
freely as he did； he gave Lamarckians leverage for the overthrow of
a system based ostensibly on the accumulation of fortunate
accidents。 In assigning the lion's share of development to the
accumulation of fortunate accidents； he tempted fortuitists to try
to cut the ground from under Lamarck's feet by denying that the
effects of use and disuse can be inherited at all。 When the public
had once got to understand what Lamarck had intended； and wherein
Mr。 Charles Darwin had differed from him； it became impossible for
Charles…Darwinians to remain where they were； nor is it easy to see
what course was open to them except to cast about for a theory by
which they could get rid of use and disuse altogether。 Weismannism；
therefore； is the inevitable outcome of the straits to which
Charles…Darwinians were reduced through the way in which their
leader had halted between two opinions。
This is why Charles…Darwinians； from Professor Huxley downwards；
have kept the difference between Lamarck's opinions and those of Mr。
Darwin so much in the background。 Unwillingness to make this
understood is nowhere manifested more clearly than in Dr。 Francis
Darwin's life of his father。 In this work Lamarck is sneered at
once or twice； and told to go away； but there is no attempt to state
the two cases side by side； from which； as from not a little else； I
conclude that Dr。 Francis Darwin has descended from his father with
singularly little modification。
Proceeding to the evidence for the transmissions of acquired habits；
I will quote two recently adduced examples from among the many that
have been credibly attested。 The first was contributed to Nature
（March 14； 1889） by Professor Marcus M。 Hartog； who wrote：…
〃A。 B。 is moderately myopic and very astigmatic in the left eye；
extremely myopic in the right。 As the left eye gave such bad images
for near objects； he was compelled in childhood to mask it； and
acquired the habit of leaning his head on his left arm for writing；
so as to blind that eye； or of resting the left temple and eye on
the hand； with the e