The Beginning and End of Life 415 



We have been led to these reflections by our apprehension 

 ►f the bearing upon Professor Weismann's theories of the 

 leclarations of Professor Burden Sanderson, and before ter- 

 linating this article we must cite a few more of our Oxford 

 Professor's words of wisdom. 



Speaking of merely physical inquiries, he observes : — 



' Let those who are so inclined cross the frontier and philosophise; 

 but to me it appears to be more conducive to progress that we should 

 do our best to furnish professed philosophers with such facts relating 

 to structure and function as may serve them as aids in the investiga- 

 tion of those deeper problems which concern man's relation to the 

 past, the present, and the unknown future.' 



Most cordially do we echo these judicious words which 

 form so striking a contrast to the declarations of mere 

 physicists of the School of Haeckel, who, arrogating to them- 

 selves the title of ' Men of Science,' attempt dogmatically to 

 explain the phenomena of nature, including the mind of man 

 and all its powers and attributes, on a material basis alone, 

 judging them exclusively by a consideration of anatomical' 

 structures and physical forces. 



In concluding our brief review of Professor Weismann's 

 hypotheses, we desire to express our thanks to the naturalist 

 of Freiburg for his many valuable labours. If we deem them 

 without result as aifording support to the philosophical views 

 he appears to favour, we are none the less confident that they 

 are full of interest and profit for biological science. Nor do 

 we doubt but that they will also conduce to the advantage 

 and development of the highest science also, although we are 

 persuaded that these ultimate effects wiU be widely different 

 from those which their learned and accomplished author 

 himself contemplates. They have already had the effect of 

 greatly stimulating inquiring minds and directing research 

 into new channels, and we have so high an opinion of Pro- 



