The objection, however, appears to many to be formidable.

To admit the power of spontaneous division and multiplication in such rudimentary structures, seems a complete contradiction.

The gemmules, by the hypothesis of Pangenesis, are the ultimate organized components of the body, the absolute organic atoms of which each body is composed; how then _can_ they be divisible?
Any part of a gemmule would be an impossible (because a _less_ than possible) quantity.

If it is divisible into still smaller organic wholes, as a germ-cell is, it must be made up as the germ-cell is, of subordinate component atoms, which are then the _true_ gemmules.

This process may be repeated _ad infinitum_, unless we get to true organic atoms, the true gemmules, whatever they may be, and they necessarily will be incapable of any process of spontaneous fission.