Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/788

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
*
714
*

LAMAKCKISM. 714 LA MARMORA. But perpetual crosses between individuals which have not the same peculiarities of form result in tile disappearance of all the peculiarities ac- quired by particular circumstances." (7) The jirinciple of geographical isolation (see I.soi,.vriON ) wa.s anticipated by Lamarck, who, at the close of the paragraph above quoted, goes on to sav : "Were not men .separated by dis- tances of habitation, the mixtures resulting from crossing would obliterate the general characters which distinguisli difVerent nations." (Philo- Sophie zoiilogigue. p. 202.) This idea of segre- gation is also involveii in his account of the origin of man from apes. He does not, however, specifically apjily tills principle to other animals than man. Lamarck t I'liiloso/ihic zoulogiqur. 1809) sum- med up his conclusions in the following laws: "hirst Law. — In every animal which has not e.ceeded the term of its development, the more frequent and sustained use of any organ gradual- ly strengthens this organ, develops and enlarges it, and gives it a strength proportioned to the length of time of such use; while the constant lack of use of such an organ imperceptibly weak- ens it. causes it to become reduced, progressively diminishes its faculties, and ends in its disap- I)ea ranee. "Second Law. — Everything which nature has caused individuals to acquire or lose by the in- fluence of the circumstances to which their race may be for a long time exposed, and consequently by "the inlluence of the predominant use of such an organ, or by that of the constant lack of use of such part, it preserves by heredity {genera- tion) and passes on to the now Individuals which descend from it, provided that the changes thus acquired are common to both so.xes, or to those which have given origin to these new individ- uals." Afterwards in the Introduction to the Aninunix sans vertehres (1815) he enunciates these prin- cijiles under four laws, as follows: "First Law. — Life, by its proper forces, con- tinually tends to increase the volume of every body which po.ssesses it, and to Increase the size of its parts, up to a limit which it brings about. "Second Law. — The production of a new organ in an animal body results from the supervention of a new want (hexoin) which continues to make itself felt, and of a new movement which this want gives rise to and maintains. "Third Law. — The development of organs and their jiower of action are constantly in ratio to the employment of these organs. "Fourth hair. — Kverytliing which has been ac- quired, impressed upon, or clianged in the or- ganization of individuals, during the course of their life is preserved by generation, and trans- mitted to the new individuals which have de- scended from those which have undergone those changes." Lamarck failed to catch the idea of natural selection — the essence of Darwinism — though his views on overpopulation were fundamentally like those of Jlalthus (I70S). wdiose essay on population gave the hint both to Darwin and to Wallace, which became the germ of the theory of natural sclectinn (q.v.). Sec EvoLi'Tiox. LA MARMORA, lil mar'mi-rfl. .^LiiEKT. Count of (1789-180.3). An Italian soldier and scientist, elder brother of Alfonso. He was born in Turin; was educated for the army at Fon- tainebleau, and served with distinction, being decorated by Napoleon 1. after the battle of Bautzen. On account of his participation in the revolutionary movement in I'ledmunl in 1821, he was exiled to (he island of Sardinia, and re- mained tiiere for nearly ten years, during which time lie was occujiicd in the study and invcsliga- tlon of the natural characteristics of the island. The result of his labor ajipeared in an 'elaborate report, which is highly esteemed for its accuracy. In 1831, being recalled from his exile by the (iDverniiient, he was restored to favor and became a member of the Accadcnila delle Scienze of Turin. He was, nevertheless, as revolutionary as ever In spirit, and on the outbreak of the great movement of 1848 he joined Daniel JIanIn and liecame prominent during I lie unsuccessful revolt of Venice. Later, however, he assumed the char- acter of peacemaker, and by his wise counsels succeeded in allaying much of the irritation which existed among the leaders of the contend- ing parties. Besides several scientific memoirs, La !Marmora pulilislied in Frencli his great work, } oi/age en Sardaif/ne, ou description .■stntistiqne, phi/NiijKc et politi(iue dc eette He ( ls:ill-.')7 ) . comprising an atlas and complete description of Sardinia. LA MARMORA, Alfonso Ferrero. Manpils of (181)4-78). An Italian geiu'ial and states- man, liorn in Turin. In 1810 lie entered the mili- tary academy in his native city, becoming a lieu- tenant In the artillery in 1823. In 1843 lie lie- came major, and for his distinguished conduct In the war of 1848 against Austria, was decorated with the medal of valor. The services he then rendered the Sardinian Army removed from the mind of Charles AUicrt a jircjuclice wlilcli his warm advocacy of iiillltary reform had aroused in the King. La Jlarmora was made a lirigadler- general, and In 1849 repressed a rebellion in Genoa. In the same year he entered the Cab- inet as Minister of War, and initiated a series of reforms which amounted almost to the reorganization of the army. In 18.5.5 he was placed in command of the Sardinian troops sent to the Crimea, distinguished him- .self in the battle of the Tchernaya, and at the close of the war was invested with the Order of the Bath and the grand cross of the Legion of Honor, and reentered the Ministry in his former cajiacily. He was next to the King in command of the Italian forces in the war of 1859, by which Lombardy was acquired, and upon Ca- vour's reslsmatlon In Julv, presided over the Cabinet till .lanuary, 1800. In 18G1 he was sent to Prussia as envoy extraordinary. In No- vember of that year he became Governor of Xaples. From isiu to 1800 he was Prime Min- ister, and concluded the alliance with Prussia. In the campaign against Austria in 1800 he lost the battle of Custozza and resigned his position as chief of staff, as well as his portfolio. His last oflicial position was that of Governor of Rome, which he held from October, 1870, to .January. 1871. His account of the secret nego- tiations between Prussia and Italy ( Vn po pin di hiee Ktiijli rirrrninienli del ISIlti. Florence. 1873) Incurred the denunciation of Prince Bis- marck and the censure of the Italian Govern- ment. He died In Florence, .January 5. 1S7S Consult: Massari. H generate .llfonso La Mar- mora, ricordi biografici (Florence, 1880) ; Chiala,