Picture - Cosmic Polymath

§ 9. Dendritic or Branching Movement in Electrical Discharge— Dendritic Formations in Crystals,
DENDRITIC OR BRANCHING ARRANGEMENTS 47
Plants, Animals, &c.
Having shown how very intimate the connection is as between crystals, plants, and animals in the matter of
radiating, concentric, and spiral arrangements, and having further shown that spiral arrangements exist on a grand
scale in the physical universe, I now proceed to demonstrate that dendritic or branching arrangements also exist
in crystals, in plants, and animals, and in the physical universe. My contention here is that there is an inherent
tendency in physical and vital forces to split up the matter (dead and living) on which they act ; the amount of
sphtting increasing in proportion to the amount of resistance encountered, there being less resistance in ether
than in common air, less in fluids than in solids, and so on. A river when it reaches the flat sands and mud of
the estuary usually divides into two or more channels ;
water forced through a hose on a dry pavement spreads,
and so does water spilt upon the ground. In like manner the resistance experienced by the fluids permeating the
body causes the fluids to split up, divide, and bifurcate, and this, it appears to me, has much to do with the
dendritic or branching appearance presented by the blood-vessels, the coats or coverings of which are laid down
where the nutritive and formative fluid first meanders. Force takes the line of least resistance in this as in other
cases, and, as I have explained elsewhere, the vital and physical forces are, as a rule, not opposed to each other but
work in unison. What is true of the blood-vessels is true of the lymphatics, nerves, and all structures where division
and branching occurs. The division is, for the most part, longitudinal, but not unfrequently it is transverse, when
it is known as segmentation. Division may, of course, take place as apart from obstruction in growing structures.
When a formative agency is at work, as in growth and development, the direction and extent of the division or
bifurcation is predetermined, and limits set. That a certain amount of resistance is experienced in many cases
during development is shown by this, that at the points of bifurcation in growing structures there is generally a
little increase in substance in sohds and a slight dilatation of the channel in tubes. The thickening and increase
in question are seen to advantage in the venation of leaves, and the branching of blood-vessels (Plate xxxiii.. Figs. 1
and 3); the increase referred to is seen in the physical universe in electric sparks (Plate xxxi., Figs. 2 and 3,
and Plate xxxii., Fig. 2) ; lightning flashes (Plate xxix., Figs. 1 and 2) ; and in branching structures generally
(Plates xxxviii. and xxxix.).
The vital force during development presses forward, as is well shown in the streaming or river-like advance
of Plasmodium when feeding (Fig. 59, p. 302). In this case also there is increase where the living stream divides.
The dendritic or branching arrangements in the inorganic and organic kingdoms are iUustrated by twenty-five
plates, namely. Plates xxix. to Uv. inclusive.
PLATE XXIX
Plate xxix. illustrates radiating, branched, waved arrangement in lightning flashes.
Fig. 1.—Ramified, waved lightning, photographed by J. Cruik. Sliows radiating, dendritic, tree-like shapes wholly nnlike the
conventional zigzag lightning pourtrayed by artists. Resembles electric sparks (Plate xxxi.. Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Plate xxx.,
Fig. .3 ; Plate xxxii., Fig. 2) ; various crvstals (Plate ii.) ; dendrites (Plate xxxiv.. Figs. 1 and 2 ; Plate xxxv., Figs. 1 iind 4
Plate xxxvi.. Fig. 2) ; leaves and trees generally (Plate xxxiii., Fig. 3 ; Plate xlv.. Figs. 2 and 3) ; corals (Plate xxxv.. Fig. 5 ; Plate
xxxvi.. Fig. 3) ; and parts of animals such as the bronchial tubes, blood-vessels, and other liraiiching structures (Plate xxxix.,
Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive).
Fig. 2.—Ramified, waved lightning a.s seen at Sydney, New South Wales, photographed by H. C. Russell. Shows radiating,
branching, dendritic, tree-like forms similar to those represented at Fig. 1 of this Plate. The description given under Fig. 1 applie.^*
to this figure.
Fig 3 —Photograph of electric spark where the terminals or discharging poles (positive and negative) are separated four inches.
Similar photographs are seen at Plate xxx.. Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The descriptions given of these figures apply to this. Photographed for
the Author by Mr. T. C. Gamlen.
PLATE XXX
Plate xxx. illustrates hnes of force, motion, and fight as revealed by electric sparks.
Figs 1 and 2 —Electric sparks specially photographed for the Author by Mr. T. G. Gamlen of West Hartlepool. The sparks were
taken in a dark room by the aid of a 10-inch induction coil with 12 volts on coil. Exposure a ciuavter of a second The terminal
or discharging poles (positive and negative) were separated 2, 3, and 9 inches respectively. 1 he photographs have been reduced to
suit the size of the page Show branching lines of force, motion, and light similar in many respects to tlie lightning flashes represented
at Plate xxix., Figsf 1 and 2. The descriptions given of these figures may very properly be repented m the case ot the present ones.
Fig 3 -Branching lines of force, motion, and light obtained as in Figs. 1 and 2 ; the terminals in this case being separated
9 inches' These resemble in a striking manner the branched lightning flashes represented at Plate xxix., Figs, 1 and 2, especially the
latter. Photographed for the Author by Mr. T, G. Gamlen.