Sec. 28. Waste of Cells
So soon as the embryo begins to grow, the waste of cells begins; and continues until the death of the individual, however long he may live. “The knowledge is wanting,” says the Britannica, “which would tell us, when a certain limit has been attained, the process of income and expenditure balance and growth ceases.”—(Encyc. Brit. 17, p. 686.) “During life,” says Professor Martin, “all the formed elements of the body are constantly being broken down and removed; either molecularly, (that is bit by bit, while the general size and form of the cell or fibre remains unaltered) or in mass, as when the hairs and the cuticle are shed.” (Martin, Human Body, p. 670.)
See Encyc. Brit. 17, pp. 686-687; Martin, Human Body, pp. 451-476, 670-671; New International Encyc. 9, pp. 312-315.
The waste of cells affects the growth of the body, only so far as it tends to neutralize and offset the increase of the body by the multiplication of cells.
Sec. 29. Embryo Body is Built up of Inanimate Atoms Except the Germ-Cell
The germ-cell (fertilized ovum) is the physical basis of every human body. Such an ovum is said to be potentially alive because it may, with the aid of the Creator, develop into a living individual. Excepting this tiny bit of flesh-like substance, which is barely visible to the naked eye, and which is not one trillionth part of the infant at birth, every part of the human embryo is built up of inanimate atoms, which are carried and distributed to the growing embryo by the blood of the mother. These dead atoms are then assimilated by the embryo and incorporated into its growing body.
The fertilized ovum is soon split and divided into millions of pieces, by the division of cells, and lost in the general mass of the embryo body like a drop in the sea. It appears that the chief office of the fertilized ovum is to inaugurate the growth and multiplication of cells, which are, finally, differentiated and specialized into the several organs and parts of the embryo body.
These facts serve to show the extent of the supernatural creative work done in the embryo body. It is a new living body, with all its organs and parts made of inanimate matter, except the germ-cell.