Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-03-29
PROF, LOEB AND LIFE,


A contributor to the current num-
her Of Frank LeslIes Popular Monthly
takes the view that, If Professor Loebs
theory Of life is true, It follows that
physicians must unlearn the science of
medicine, and that food values must
be studied anew from an entirely DIFF
ferent standpoint Professor Loeb an
nounces TO the world that electrical and
not thermal energy Is the basis OF all
muscular activity and vital processes.
In other words the electrical quality Of
foods, and not the dynamic force re-
sulting from heat Is the basis of all
human life, More simply still Professor
Loeb's dictum is this; Electricity, not
heat, is the vital force Of our being.
Prof Loeb's experiments and conclu-
slons have been followed with much in
terest In the scientific world, for he
declares that conscious life can be
called into existence without the inter-
position Of the usual means. A chemi-
cal force he says, applied at the right
time, starts living being on It's career
in the world That II true, Is surely an
important discovery, to be classed In
the category Of the discovery Of the
law OF grayltatlon. or the invention OF
telegraphy without wires.
Some viii probably see In the new
suggestions as TO the origin Of life. a
danger to the faith that reaches far be-
yond the boundaries OF matter for an
explanation Of conscious existence. But
truth can never be dangerous to true
faith. Suppose that II can be demon
strated that life was created through
the application of electric force TO mat
ter arranged in o certain way, the
necessity for the acceptance Of divine
intelligence as the originator, will stand
forth more clearly than ever. For the
question VIII always remain, who ar
ranged the matter and applied the
force In order to achieve the result?
The absurd theory that worlds were
called into existence and made to bring
forth living things. without the in
strumentallty OF natural forces, and
even without material, may have to be
dismissed as an antquated SUI
perstiton, as science probes, as
far as It can, the mysteries OF
existence. But that win be no loss
to faith. The believer in a divine prln-
ciple is perfectly willing that the pro-
cesses of creation should be intelligent
" explained, and that whatever Is true
should be demonstrated. For that can
but enhance his admiration for the
wisdom, power and love OF the Archi-
tect of all.
An untutored savage, when first see-
ing an ocean greyhound, and left to
himself to frame his theories about it,
would no doubt form many peculiar
notions. hut let him obtain the aid
needed to study and understand It's DIFF
ferent parts how they were made and
put together and for what purpose.
Let him know the thousands Of agen-
cles that were set TO work before such
a wonder could be completed Let
him follow the iron plates, through
various transformations, back TO their
crude state in the ore in the mine
the woodwork, TO the forests in which
the trees grew; let him follow the glass.
the paint and the numerous other ma
tcrlals in the same way; explain TO
him how the plans and models were
made and how every part was shaped
and Joined TO other parts all conceived
and executed for the one, grand pur-
pose; would he not. as his mind be-
came more and more enlightened be
led 70 admire the wisdom and power OF
the builder2 Would II be possible for
him, with a full knowledge OF the facts.
to deny the existence OF an intelligent