LINNEAN SOCIETy OF LONDON. IxXT 



" The formation of Infusoria in boiled solutions of organic matter 

 enclosed in hermetically sealed Axssels and supplied with pure 

 air," and its supplement, " Observations and experiments on living 

 Organisms in Heated Water," published in the 'American Journal 

 of Science and Arts,' the first in the year 1862, the other in 1S67. 

 Milne-Edwards, insufficiently appreciating Dr. Wy man's scien- 

 tific position, questioned the accuracy of the first series because 

 they did not agree with those of Pasteur, and thought the difter- 

 ence in the results depended upon a defective mode of conducting 

 the experiments. As Dr. "\Yymau remarks in a note to the second 

 series, " the recent experiments of Dr. Child of Oxford and those 

 reported in ' this communication are sufficient answer to the 

 criticisms of IM. Edwards." Without further following this dis- 

 cHssion, it may be said that the question of abiogenesis stands to- 

 day very much where Professor Wyman left it seven years ago. 



It may be asked how an anatomist, physiologist, and morpho- 

 logist like Professor Wyman regarded the most remarkable scien- 

 tific movement of his time, the revival and apparent prevalence 

 of doctrines of evolution. As might be expected, he was neither 

 an advocate nor an opponent ; but he was clear from the begin- 

 ning, that evolutionary doctrines were essentially philosophical 

 and healthful, " in accordance with nature as commonly manifested 

 iu her works," and that they need not disturb the foundations o!:" 

 natural theology. 



Dr. Wyman was elected a Foreign Member on the 6tb of May, 

 18G0. 



LINN. PKOc- Session 1874-75. 



