, 1877-07-15
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE,

1
| cations, as well as those who modify scientific
facts by theological opinions, must take 4 deen
| interest in the present controversy concerning
| the origin OF life. 1t will bc remembered that
| Prof. TYNDALL made an important statement
on this subject in his late lecture before the
| British Royal Institution. He said, in summing
| up. that months Of elaborate experiment had
convinced him that there vas not Is vet a shad.
ow Of evidence in favor OF spontaneous cener.
| alton. The opinion Of scientific men has been
divided on this line in consequence of tue expert
ments OF Dr.. BAsr1Ae. Fifteen years aso be
announced. as the result OF his investigation.
that saline fluids lose their power of multiply
ing life By exposure, after incubation. to tho
| comparatively moderate temperature of It's de-
grees Fahrenheit Tet he found that these
fluids again developed microscopic 1ife. after
cooling, though protected from the atmosphere
and all other possible sources Of contamina-
tion. DR.. BAsTIAN'3 views are controrertcI,
as already stated, by Prof. T1aDAL1,
and BY NJ PAsrEUE, the distinguished
French psychologist. The latter admits the
hypothesis Of BAsTAN up to acertan poia:, and
even accepts some of his infcrenccs; but he rc-
jects, if we may be perzxitted the phrase, the
vital conclusion. He has accordingly chal-
1enged Dr.. BAsTIAy to repeat his experiments
before three celebrated French expcrts-Du-
MAS, MILNE EDWARDS, and DoUss1yGAULr The
challenge has been accepted, and the expert
ments will shortly be made, until which
time the controversy Is resting, in; some
measure, in abeyance. Prof. TrSpAtLs
opposition, as might have been ez-
pcrted, has been more individual and cnc,gctlc.
He demanded no committee of investigation to
decide question which be felt competent to
examine and pass upon both for himself snd for
the rest Of the scientific world. His expert
mcnts we're exhaustive and original. First ha
heat ed the same fluids treated by Or. BAsT1AS
to higher temperature, and no traces f,f BAG
terial life appeared. Then. after several ez-
periments less satisfactory In their rcstits,-
which seemed, indeed, to establish the
truth of the germal thcosy,-he a1oot-
ed new hypothesis which obviatch all
bis previous difficulties. Observation cou-
vinced him that the bacteria held ip tho
fluids we're in different stages Of development,
some OF the younger ones being more Or less
and better able to resist the heat,
while those which had arrived at maturity were
soft, aud could be more easily destroyed In
order, therefore, that he might catch alt the
germs at the period Of maturity, be subjected
the fluids to several successive heatings, 1t IT.
terva1s OF ten OF twelve hours. In this manner
be extinguished all the germs, and the aultl re-
named afterwards at low tenlperaturet-the
air beng excluded,-without developing any
forms OF life.
The bearing Of these and similar inve5tisa-
tfons on the field of theological speculation Is
and, though simple Christians,
without pretensions to learning, need not, in
any eycut, hare their faith shaken or thes iu,-
p1icit confidence in the Christian scheme dis
turbed, the learned Doctors may be getting
:hcir weapons Of defense ready. The establish
ncnt among scientific men of the theory
II spontaneous generation would open new
egion for exploration,-a terra ine97nia'
erriblc than ever a SpESsEE or DANTE could
oncciye. Matcria1sm would receive n new
impulse. The Development Theory would be-
ONE comparatively tame and harmless ijoe-
rinc; for the attack would be no longer directed
gainst belief in special creations but against
clicf in creation at all. Thcolorians who
ave heretofore considered it hardship
hat they we're compelled to defend the
utworks Of their faith would be driven in
, their citadel and compelled to acfen.t the
rk OF the Covenant itself against irupioux as
lults. Happily, there is At present no dagger
SO fEightful a conflict. On the side Of the
hrisran and orthodox host may now be found
latupions from among the unbelicycrs. : In-
eed, it may be said that the fight thus f;1r is
MINED exclusively to the ranks Ut tho scicn-
ic men. 1t is quarrel among themselves, in
hich the heaviest artillery is engaged ae:inst
and unbelief, and the heaviest attil-
r., tradition leads us to believe. always has
C favor of Providence In aspccia1 degree. !