PHYSICAL LIFE AND ITS 



BASIS. 



HE opinion that life is a form or mode of energy 

 or motion has for many years past been gaining 

 an increased number of advocates, and now ap- 

 pears to be very generally entertained and taught by 

 scientific men. The idea that life is a power, force, or 

 property of a special and peculiar kind, temporarily influ- 

 encing matter and its ordinary forces, but entirely different 

 from, and in no way correlated with these, has been ridi- 

 culed, and is often spoken of as if it were too absurd to 

 require refutation. And yet it is doubtful if any one who 

 has carefully studied the matter is fully satisfied as to the 

 accuracy of the facts, and the cogency of the arguments 

 advanced in favour of the physical doctrine of life. Nay, 

 do not very positive affirmations, if unsupported by well- 

 demonstrated facts, suggest to the reader a suspicion 

 whether after all, the writer himself is, thoroughly con- 

 vinced of the truth of the doctrine to which he has 

 committed himself, and which he has determined to advo- 

 cate with all the force of his authority, and to the very 

 utmost of his power ? 



It may be that facts recently discovered strongly support 



B 



