New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
PRESIDENT BARNARD ON MODERN SCIENCE

lucid exposition of the most recent developments
in physical science and its relation to the more spec
ulative branches of philosophical inquiry IS pre-
sented in this comprehensive DISCOURSE fTesloeht
Barnard compares the history of scientific nyestlga-
Zion IN three perods in the life of man. The first is
the period Of birth and infancy which offers no claim
ON the attention of the world; the second is the
youth of the individual during which feebleness is
gradually rpened into strength and the third is the
stage of maturity in which the full-grown man is
merged in the society which surrounds him. and the
antecedents of his experience are loss sight
of in the fullness of his present activity The
early experiments of Volta afford an example OF
scientific truth in its infancy, while the same truth
isexhibted in its mature form by the achievements
of clectro-chemisy and eectTo-magnetsm, the aka
line metals the electric telegraph, and the light
houses of DungenneSs and La Heve In like manner
the mercurial vacuum first produced by ToTicelli,
has been the pioneer of the engine of Newcomer, and
the powerful motors which have transformed the
face of modern industry. The curious fact of the
transverse sriatiOn of the solar spectrum observed
by Wollaston was converted into an instrument of
chemical research by Bunsen and Kirchhof, and has
more recently enabled Higgins, Miller, and Secchi
to explain the constitution Of the sum- the fixed stars,
and the nebuln. The truths of science, which were
dmly perceived by the first explorers, are subse-
quently applied to the industrial arts passing from
the exclusive possession of limited class into the
common knowledge of the civilized world.
In discussing the recent progress of science as in
dcatiDg an advance from the weakness of infancy
70 the vigorous maturity of manhood President Bar
nard refers to the results of investigations concerning
the planets Neptune and Mars, by Professor New
comb the discovery of asteroids by Professor Watson
and others, the spectroscOpic observations of the
heavens 10y Secch and other astronomical studies by
u IL ftnvo ~
survey of other branches of physical science, Pres
don't Barnard proceeds to the question of the source
of power in muscular cOntractOns. Accepting the
latest conclusions Of physiological experiments that
the ntrogenous compounds furnished in food not
an adequate equivalent for the work performed by
the muscles, and that hence portion of the force
exerJed is due to the oxidation of nOnnitrOgenous
compounds IN the blood he remarks that this infor
nation throws no light on the mystery of the con-
version of heat OF electricity chemical force into
muscular energy in living animal. On the sub
ject of muscular dynamics there is no theory what
ever. We have, at least, prOximate explanation of
the change of electrical energy into magnetic
energy We can conceive how the magnet produces
motion. We have theory of the transformation of
heat into molar force in the cylinder of the steam
engine. But we cannot explain by any physical
theory the contraction of animal muscles. We have
on side, the chemical action the other the
mechanical; but in regard to the transformation of
one into the other, we have only the vaguest con-
jOcture
From this fact, President Barnard is led to a brief
exposition OF the limits of scientific inquiry. The
tendency of modern thought, he remarks, is to as
sumo that there is no truth whatever which is not
expicable by physical law. Under the operation of
this principle there place left for metaphysics or
the theory of being and the foundations of knowledge
1t is demanded that all phenomena whether mental |
material shall be ranked in common class and
treated in the same way Mental philosophy is thus
reduced to branch of physical science. But this |
conclusion is resisted by the author, who maintains,
on the contrary that the field Of physical research
must be limited 10y narrower boundaries The spirit |
of positive science. he argues in its legitimate
cise leads to the conclusion that there is something
existent which it cannot reach, and which yet is
movable in its most important relations, that is to
say, in precisely the sense, in which We can be
said to know anything whatever.
The phenomena of conscious life, for example, ac-
cOrdng to DR.. Barnard, are not TO be explained by
the doctrine of the conservation Of force. This doc
trne has wide application to the facts of physical
science. Heat. electricity, light, and gravita-
ton, and chemical force are now regarded forces
Into which molar energy when it disappears is
pletely transformed The truth that force is
lost and no force ever created has been established
by Of the most refined and accurate expert
ment.
But beside the forces whose existence is made |
known TO in the phenomena of the inorganic world
the author maintains there is another force class
of forces whose effects we only in living bodies
Under the influence of these forces compounds are |
built up which chemical art has in vain attempted to
initiate and which at break down when the sus-
tanning power is withdrawn The force associated |
with life is manifested in various forms 1t passes
through the different degrees of organizing force the
force represented by sensibty the force Of WILL of
intelligence of emotion and of the moral sense. 1t
has been claimed of late that these forces are only
manifestations of known physical forces acting upon
presented under new forms-thus reducing the func-
tons of sentient and intelligent life TO the class Of
physical forces.
The validity Of this claim is called IN question by
the author Admitting that the processes Of organic
growth are the result of external forces, something
more is necessary to the effect than the juXta
position of the materials The growing plant for in
stance finds its chief food in carbon. This is de-
rived from the carbOnc acid of the atmosphere Of
the earth. The force which deconposos this firm
compound leaving the carbon free 10 combine with
the plant is furnished by the solar ray. But if the
principle Of life is not in the plant the effect will
not take place. It's presence is necessary to the
tion of the sun on the carbonc acid and the vege
table tissue, and in its absence the work is
not performed. More than this. The forces which |
produce growth during the life of the plant not |
only unable TO do after life has ceased, but no
forces which human skill eau cOntrive produce
single leaf of the simplest plant Of which nature
der the influence Of life produces myrads every
Summer. 49,