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Some of the former, in certain of their aspects, will be considered in the sixth chapter, which deals with factors in evolution. The Theory of Descent itself and the differences that obtain even among its adherents can best be studied by considering for a little the works of Reinke and of Hamann.
But the palæontological record, and especially its synthetic types, lead Reinke rather to assume that instead of innumerable series, there have been branching genealogical trees, not one, however, but several.
The principles of the new school are very widespread to-day, but we cannot here follow their development in the works of individual investigators, such as Reinke, R. Hertwig, O. Hertwig, Wiesner, Hamann, Dreyer, Wolff, Goette, Kassowitz, v. Wettstein, Korschinsky, and others. The Spontaneous Activity of the Organism.
Herr Reinke has shown that the chlorophyl action increases regularly with the light for intensities under that of direct sunlight; but what is unexpected, that for the higher intensities above that of ordinary daylight the disengagement of oxygen remains constant. M. Leclerc du Sablon has published some of his results in his work on the opening of fruits.
In his “Theory of Dominants,” Reinke, the botanist of Kiel, has attempted to formulate his opposition to the physico-chemical conception of life into a vitalistic theory of his own.
The organisation passes from a labile state of equilibrium to an increasingly stable state, and at many points it may reach a terminus where it comes to a standstill. Man, the dog, the horse, the cereals, and fruit trees appear to Reinke to have reached their goal.
The whole situation seems serious, but it is not so disastrous as it appears at first sight. It is not quite so certain that the problem of organic life can be settled in terms of chemical combinations and mechanism. Many scientists are agreed on this point, although they repudiate the claims of neo-vitalists such as Driesch and Reinke.
Reinke and Hamann both revive some of the arguments and opinions set forth in the early days of Darwinism by Wigand, an author whose works are gradually gaining increased appreciation. It is Reinke’s “unalterable conviction” that organisms have evolved, and that they have done so after the manner of fan-shaped genealogical trees.
While Bach held the position of director of the chapel of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Kothen, which he assumed about the year 1720, he went to Hamburg on a pilgrimage to see old Reinke, then nearly a centenarian, whose fame as an organist was national, and had long been the object of Bach's enthusiasm.
As to transpiration taking place in a saturated atmosphere, it is a mistake; generally there is a difference in the temperature of the plant and the air, and the air is not saturated in its vicinity. In a word, transpiration and evaporation is the same thing. Herr Reinke has made an interesting examination of the action of light on a plant.
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