The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-05


ence has finally crossed the border it
has sought so long to reach. 1t proved
that science at last knows how imam
mite matter may be changed to AMI
mate; that it has solved the greatest
of human problems and discovered the
very essence of existence.
But" declared Prof. Schaefer,
though life may be made, human life
cannot be prolonged indefinitely Tc
all human life nature has set limit
The universal law, from which there Is
no escape and in the face of winch
science stands powerless is death.
Here are some statements taken from
the address which are of startling IN
terest and Importance:
by suitable processes living SUD-
stances can be produced from mani
mate chemical matter.
1--WE are by no means JUSTIFIED 1T
supposing that life was established a.
one period only in the past history Oh
the globe. Our own life is an aggre'
gate life: the life of the whole is the
life of individual cells, only some OF
which lose their vitality at the mo
meut of so-called general death. MOO
ern application of the principles Oh
preventive medicine and hygiene are
operating to lengthen life. Even II
the ravages of disease could be alto.
gether eliminated, the fixed cells Oh
the body must ultimately cease tc
function All that lives must die;
passing through nature to eternity
The Great Essential.
The great essential to the creation
of life, declared the speaker Is tne
presence of a certain substance cali
ed hormones, largely formed in GER
tain ORGANS and carried by blood &c
the other parts of the body, where 1t
excites the cells to activity Inc prlh-
cipal differences between the world OF
@f 1VafT
said. is the absence of the nervous sys-
tenn in plants.
It is certain hormones which differ
entiate male and female. These hor-
nones are responsible for the conn
and tail of the cock, the name OF the
lion, the horns of the stag. ana the
beard and adams apple of the man
one of the most important statements
was that hormones, though response
BILE for most vital characteristics such
as the production of sex and the func-
lions of the nervous system, have been
found when analysed to be of the most
simple chemical character.
Horrnones, which might be termed
'sthe secret of life,' have actually been
prepared by Professor Schaefer from
chemical substances in his laboratory
The speaker also hailed the day
when we shall by chemistry be able to
mold character and even to XIII as
5ssHeredity," he said. "is one of the
problems whose eventual solution we
must look to the chemist to provide.
Concerning death he said:
Death of some cells, those of the
hair and nails for instance, does not
affect the vitality of the whole, yet the
death of a few cells such as those un-
der the influence of which breathing
is carried on and those cells which
compose the heart, result in the death
of the living being. But many cells,
such as muscle cells, contain life long
after the rest of the body is dead
Prof Schaefer's position is supported
by his standing in the scientific world.
in the field of physiological research
he has won high honors, having been
awarded the distinguished service medal
of the Royal Life Saving society and
the Baly medal of the College of Physi
clans. He was born in 1850 and edu-
Gated at University college, London
where he afterwards was a professor.
He is a fellow of the Royal Society
editor of the Quarterly Review of Elk
perimenta1 Physiology and has receiv-
ed honorary degrees from many uni
versities.
Professor Schaefer's declaration has
created widespread discussion and
controversy among scientists and lay
men and newspapers throughout the
country comment on the theory of the
president of the British association. sur
missing it will prove a topic of bitter
argument. They compare it with the
epoch making theories of Charles
Darwin and Thomas Huxley on the
evolution of man. Many clergymen
attack the idea that life has a begin
ming merely of the action OF chemical
elements