New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-01

u ,;I, co,nee. into being by the operation Of the
oorolaws nc scientific men believe that it must have
or;ginated in the early history of the earth,
vvbcn living compounds first began to appear
rnon the cooling snrface of the planet. There
;s M reason 10 believe that IT such
svntbetc processes took place then they shoud not
also take place now. The inherent molecular prop
critics of various kinds of matter can have under
none no important alteration. We know that simple
mineral substances may exist in different allotroplc
conditions. But if mere differences of molecular ar
rangement may cause sulphur or arsenic, on diner
emit occasions to present wholly different appear
ances and properties il is easy to believe that living
matter also might undergo like molecular rearrange
ments entailing essential changes in the form ana
other attributes of the living aggregate. As mat
ter of fact it is certain that similar transformations
amongst living things have been almost AZ well at
tested the OF aloropic changes among
different kinds of non-living matter.
The character of DR.. Bastians researches IS purely
experimental. He does not deal with hypotheses
lie is committed to the support OF no ingenious OF
fanciful systems. He aims only at stating the re-
suits of observation in explicit language Nor does
he make any pretensions to sounding the mysteries
of universal being He does not undertake to eiuci-
date the processes of creation. Even the origin OF
rected his experiments he admits to be beyond his
grasp He contends that if the processes which take
place in living beings are in great part amenable to
the ordinary laws of physics and chemistry instead
of being processes altogether occult and peculiar
much of the mystery which formerly obscured the
vital phenomena is being gradually removed.
But let supposed that we 80 further than th
that suppose all mystery has vanished no, enounh
still remains TO fiji minds with the deepest awe anu
reverence The most intimate processes ana
of Life remain utterly neXpicable. We have removed
the thick husks, but the kernel OF inc nut get "
hidden, envelOped in an mpenetrable she'll MHa u9
we know concerning the actual phenomena OF nulIUh
They are still inscrutable mysteries BY what molecular
or other laws does organic unit assllhate 10 lscI
matter OF a particular kind out Of complex mixture
convert IL into its own substance and endoW u WIN It's
own properties of doing kewisef renewing a. We
may that sensation and thought are tue fouucts vi
molecular changes taking place in nerve organs uOes
this belief assist us one Ota in explaining the deeper
facts Can we AZ present frame 10 ourselves any pos
sibe conceivable way IN when mere
as sensations, thoughts, ana all tne various noueso
selfconscousnessl While such problems, and many
others Just difficult, remain Tor our sOuou S1u
never be supposed that believed the problems OF Lac
10 be solved We have cleared some OF the appfoaches
but there is still impenetrabe temple or mystery
Emily 10 apprecate the extent of ignorance, now
ever the and surest preparation for widening the
sphere OF our knowledge
A large part Of the work is taken up with the de-
scription of experiments, which whatever conclu-
sion NAV be adopted as to their bearing on the origin
of life are in the highest degree curious and sug-
restive forming an important illustration OF the
doctrine of evolution. In the present state OF
physiological science they will doubtless call forth
controversy rather than command assent but
they cannot fail to challenge the interest of all
sincere inquirers as furnishing valuable materials
for the elucidation of facts and the formation OF
opinions