The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-12-02
Organic Matter In Mete0rs.

Prof. j. Lawrence Smith Denies its existence
From the Louisville Courier-Journal, Nov. p.
Not long since short interview with
Prof. j. Lawrence Smith, the scientist,
was published concerning organic re-
mains in metcoric stones. Learning
that he had obtained facts in addition
to what he had previously stated, re-
porter interviewed him again yester-
day, and the following embodies what
he had to say when the subject was
broached:
81 have given expressian to my opin-
ion in regard to Prof. IIahn's pretend
ed discovery of organic remains in me-
teoric stones. Although l have proba-
bly, examined more microscopic plates
of fragments of meteorites than any
other person, still have never discov-
cred anything like organic remains in
any of them. Besides, the well-known
chemical composition of these bodies is
aversed to the existence of any such
remains as spoken Of by Prof. Hahn.
Were these remains present we should
discern carbonate of lime on their inter-
ior. The two or three that have any
carbonate of lime were discovered and
aualyzed by myself, and in these cases
constituent of incrustation deposited
on the surface after their fall. In the
microscopic examination of these polish
cd plates of meteoritics the two pre-
dominating minerals, enstatitc and
bronzite, will, by their fissurcs and
forms, sometimes remind one of vegc-
table and other organic formes, but
the merest tyro of an observer will
trace here nothing but rare resem-
blance. And, furthermore, the very
igneous nature of these minerals pre-
cludes the possibility of organic remains
even in terrestrial minerals of similar
kind. Not knowing of any eminent
German geologist named Prof. Hahn,
thought it but reasonable and logical
that should inquire something about
him from my friend Prof. Hawes, now
in the employ of the Smithsonian In
stitution, and the best Theological mi
croscopist in this country, and who
recently returned TO this country after
ten years study with Prof Rosenbaum
and others into the microscopic charac-
ter ofrock. In answer to my inquiries
Prof. Hawes wrote me this letter:
"'1 read that paper of Prof Hahn's.
He is a kind of a half-insane man,
whose imagination has run wild with
him. These forms which he so accur-
ately describes and figures have long
been known TO exist in meteorites and
have been frequently described by
minerologists and microsopists. They
are mainly composed Of enstatite or
bronzte in radical forms and fractured
in such peculiar manner as to give
them the appearance of structure
Some of the American metooritcs which
| have examined show these forms in
great beauty, but Prof. Hahn is the
only man who has seen anything or.
ganic in them, and his paper has ex-
cited nothing but ridicule. 1t reminds
one of the long and laborious research
of a German professor, who found O
whole flora and fauna which he name d
with the double Latin names, and
which he found in his microscopic eX
animation of basalt.'
"It is very clear to my mind" con.
tinued the professor, "that these cranky
observations, viewed with the specta,
cles of the imagination OF Prof. Hahn,
have obtained more publicity then they
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