The Longevity of Textural Elements, particularly in Dentine and Bone

Abstract

WHATEVER views we may take of the theories of Weismann, which at present occupy the attention of biologists, they may be hailed as giving new directions to research, and one of the subjects about which his allusions will probably lead to further inquiry is the length of time during which textural elements continue individually. I have used the word longevity at the top of this letter; but, perfectly admitting the justice of Weismann's criticism—that division into two, each of which is a unity like the first, is not death—I feel driven to the dire necessity of inventing a new word, Permanunity, to denote permanence without division; and it is of such permanence or longevity of the undivided unit that I wish to note a circumstance which has recently presented itself to my mind.