THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 425 



currence of all such reactions is the fact that simul- 

 taneous processes of analysis and synthesis are con- 

 tinually taking place in all growing forms of living 

 matter. This dependence of life on decomposition 

 is a subject which has been much dwelt upon by t 

 Dr. Freke 1 and Mr. Hinton 2 ; and, quite apart from 

 the special relations to which I have just been alluding, 

 Baron Liebig has, on other and broader grounds, 

 pointed out the striking analogies that exist, between 

 processes of fermentation and those nutritive changes 

 which occur within the living body during the acts of 

 assimilation and growth. After alluding to the retro- / 

 gressive theories of Pasteur 3 , he adds : c I have re- 

 garded the phenomena of fermentation and putrefaction 

 from a totally different point of view, and have con- 

 sidered their elucidation as the bridge by means of 

 which we may arrive at a more exact knowledge of the 

 processes taking place in the bodies of animals and 

 plants 4 . Who can at the present time fail to perceive 

 the significance of these facts, in regard to the concep- 

 tion and explanation of many vital processes? If a 



1 On Organization, 1848. 



2 ' Life in Nature,' 1862, pp. 51-54, and 229-258. 



3 In the following terms : ' Inasmuch as Pasteur has again diverted 

 the study of fermentation and putrefaction by microscopists into the old 

 objectless path, the result has been, that the general aspect of these pro- 

 cesses has been disregarded, the phenomena that are common to all of 

 them have been overlooked. Observation has been directed to the 

 search for mere details, and it has thus become incoherent.' (On 

 Alcoholic Fermentation, Pharmac. Jrnl. Aug. 6, 1870, p. 104.) 



4 ' Ann. Chem. Pharm.' Ixii. p. 263. 



