ANIMALS NOT AUTOMATA. 405 



that fermentation occurs only when a microscopical vegetable organ- 

 ism nourishes itself and multiplies at the expense of a part of the 

 fermentable substance. All fermentation is accompanied by life ; both 

 processes (fermentation and growth) begin and end simultaneously; 

 that is, fermentation is a correlative phenomenon of life. 



The question of spontaneous generation is closely bound up with 

 the question of fermentation, the supporters of the former claiming 

 that life has its origin in a new combination of elements archebiosis, 

 a combination which resembles that which occurs in crystallization, 

 and that the same causes which induce the chemical decompositions 

 and subsequent combinations known as fermentation also bring about 

 the combinations which result in life. The discussion has been very 

 active, and, in France, Pasteur, skillful dialectician as he is, had to 

 fight long and hard for the victory which he won. History shows 

 that spontaneous generation has often been invoked to explain an un- 

 known mode of production of life, and has always disappeared before 

 advancing knowledge, and, now that it has been overthrown when 

 claimed for the lowest forms of microscopical life, it probably will not 

 reappear until an advance in the means of observation shall have re- 

 vealed to observers still lower and more minute forms. 



-*-- 



T 



ANIMALS NOT AUTOMATA. 



By EOWLAND G. HAZAED, Esq. 



HE doctrine of necessity has been ably advocated by many acute 

 philosophers, and is to-day, in various forms, including fatalism, 

 the accepted creed of a large portion of mankind. A doctrine thus 

 supported, and so immediately bearing upon our actions and our pow- 

 ers, cannot but be worthy of serious attention. 



Prof. Huxley, approaching it on the material side, in the true spirit 

 of philosophical inquiry, trustingly following wherever truth seemed 

 to him to lead, and regardless of the apprehended consequences of at- 

 tacking dominant creeds and opinions, has pushed this doctrine to its 

 legitimate logical consequences, in the conclusion that all animals, 

 man included, are but " conscious automata," moved and directed in 

 their movements by extrinsic forces. 



With him, I believe that all progress in knowledge is beneficial ; I 

 deprecate no enterprise in experiment, nor any boldness in speculation, 

 if we are duly cautious in accepting and applying its results. The 

 revelations of intelligent and honest inquiry always merit respectful 

 and careful consideration, but are not properly exempt from scrutiny. 



Although I have perhaps deviated as far on one side of the current 

 opinions as Prof. Huxlev has on the other, I cannot claim any credit 



