enquiry why we should not agree "that all the acts manifested by living beings from the humble infusoria to the highest intelligent man, were properties of the matter, as the properties of water were of the gases? This is, indeed, to have Nature cry:

"Thou makest thine appeal to me:

I bring to life, I bring to death :
The spirit does but mean the breath."

Such assertions, in my humble judgment, are only warrantable when, from the chemical elements of tissue, the philosopher can build up a similar tissue, or a single cell of which such tissue is composed, and until that be done, the vitalist has a right to consider and term it an organism plus life.*

Another learned professor of great authority declares that,

* I venture to append in support of this opinion the views of an original observer and distinguished physiologist, that will carry, perhaps, equal weight with those above quoted. Dr. L. Beale in his recent lectures (Medical Times and Gazette, November, 1868), says: "While in all living things, chemical and physical actions occur, there are other actions, as essential as they are peculiar to life, which, so far from being of this nature, are opposed to, and are capable of overcoming, physical and chemical attractions; and I think the evidence which I shall adduce will convince you that the non-living matter is the seat of the physical and chemical phenomena occurring in living beings, but that the vital actions occur in the living matter only." And in another lecture he refers to "the vague generalisations of those who persist in authoritatively declaring the dogma, that the changes occurring in cell growth are merely mechanical and chemical; although they are unable to produce, by any means at their disposal, a particle of fibrine, a piece of cartilage, or even a fragment of coral. They avoid the difficulty as regards the germinal matter by ignoring its existence, and attribute to a molecular machinery' which the mind cannot conceive, and which cannot be rendered evident to the senses, all those wonderful phenomena which are really due to vital power."

9

"In the eye of science the animal body is just as much the product of molecular force as the stalk and ear of corn, or as the crystal of salt or sugar. avowing nakedly what many scientific thinkers more or less distinctly believe. The formation of a crystal, a plant, or an animal, is in their eyes a purely mechanical problem, which differs from the problems of ordinary mechanics, in the smallness of the masses and the complexity of the processes involved."* This view is illustrated by a description, and a comparison of the phenomena of crystallization with those of the germination of a grain of corn. But again I submit, that molecular force, minus life (hitherto so termed) has never yet produced one grain of corn, and that

the analogy, or rather the identity, thus sought to be established, exists in appearance only. Indeed, the old specific distinctions, between organic and inorganic processes, are not at this moment substantially impaired by any of the discoveries respecting the molecular action action of organic growth, which improved scientific means have enabled us to effect.

No, there is much yet to be known and effected before the ultimate laws and principles of the cosmogony can be laid down, and, meanwhile, premature assertions on this great question can but provoke useless discussion, and impede the acquirement of truth. There is an immense, untraversed field still open before us, deep as earth's centre, and high as the stars, for steady, persevering investigation, and experiment. By

* Professor Tyndall, at the British Association Annual Meeting, 1868,

these means we may be led, but somehow, in due time, doubt

less we shall be led, to see within THE VEIL.

"Let knowledge grow from more to more,

But more of reverence in us dwell;

That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,
But vaster!"

THE END.

APPENDIX.

LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE HUNTERIAN SOCIETY

SINCE ITS INSTITUTION, 1819.

Presidents.

Treasurers.

1819. Benjamin Robinson, M.D.

1829. B. G. Babington, M.D., F.R.S. 1839. William Cooke, M.D.

Orators.