THE BEGINNINGS OF IIFE. 359 



elementary parts themselves.' This represents, in gene- 

 ral terms, the doctrine or mere assumption which is 

 made by many at the present day, who cannot otherwise 

 account for the numerous phenomena to which we have 

 just been referring. It is, however, in direct opposition 

 to the experiments of Dr. Burdon Sanderson, and is 

 antagonistic to the theory and practice of those who 

 believe in antiseptic surgery. It is an hypothesis of 

 Panspermism of a kind very similar to that which was 

 started by Bonnet more than a century ago. But this 

 oM view is now sought to be maintained under the 

 most adverse circumstances. Originally supported by 

 no independent observations, and based only upon the 

 occurrence of phenomena which could be otherwise 

 explained, it was thought to derive support from those 

 views concerning development which were at the time 

 advocated by Haller and Bonnet. But these old theo- 

 ries as to the ^ pre-existence of germs' of all organs 

 and tissues in the ovum itself, have faded away like 

 a cloud before the light-giving doctrines of Harvey, 

 Von Baer, and the modern evolutionists. With the 

 disappearance of the old theories of development, 

 vanished all that could ever have been said to give 

 countenance to this doctrine of Panspermism — nay 

 more, it now stands in even a more sorry plight, 

 since it is condemned and undermined by many of 

 the recent and most positive testimonies of scientific 

 workers 1. 



^ See pp. 6 and 7. 



