o64 THE president's address. 



mechanist, life is the sum of the chemico-physical properties of 

 the various forms of matter composing the livdng body ; to the 

 vitalist, Hfe is something more than that, something which utilises 

 chemico-physical properties as a workman uses his tools, but 

 which is distinct from them. 



Since it is impossible to put the matter to a crucial test, each 

 of the two opposed views remains a pious belief merely. For my 

 part I believe that the view which a man holds with regard to 

 the nature of life depends on the inner constitution and fabric, so 

 to speak, of his mind, and not on the reasoning process. A man 

 is born a vitalist or a mechanist before ever he has thought about 

 such matters, and to argue on the subject is futile. At a time 

 when I was younger than I am now, I have myself debated and 

 <liscussed such matters hotly ; like old Khayyam 



Myself when young did eagerly frequent 

 Doctor and 8aint, and heard great Argument 



About it and about : but evermore 

 Came out by the same Door as in I went. 



It is my present belief that all that is gained by such discus- 

 sions is to enable a man to ascertain what is the type of mental 

 bias with which he has come into being. The questions which 

 lie at the base of the difference of opinion are at present not capable 

 of being put to the test ; and so far as one can see, they seem 

 likely to remain for ever the most inscrutable of problems. 



Journ. QneLett Mlcroscoincal Club, Ser. 2, Vol. XL, No. 70, Aprli 1912. 



