216 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



Others again imagine that the matter existing 

 on the earth was not originally separated into 

 organic and inorganic, but was in a kind of inter 

 mediate state ; but this appears to me to be 

 physically impossible. The subject has been 

 discussed more fully in my work on Biology and the 

 Theory of Evolution (3rd ed., p. 197 et seq., p. 208 

 et seq.), which Count Hoensbroech quoted to-day. 



I now return to my first opponent. 



He laid great stress upon the fact that definite 

 elements, twelve in number, comprising five in 

 albumen, constitute all living creatures. That is 

 quite true, but the question is how, from these 

 elements, the first living creature came into being, 

 a creature really alive, having power to assimilate 

 nourishment and to propagate others like itself. 

 I agree on this point with Professor Oskar Hertwig, 

 who in his General Biology makes the very clever 

 and shrewd remark, that these theories are just 

 repetitions of the old attempt made by the Famulus 

 in Faust, to crystallise out a homunculus in a 

 test-tube. If any one fancies that the elements 

 alone suffice to produce a living creature, he is 

 making a great mistake. Even if chemistry, which 

 is making wonderful discoveries, should ever succeed 

 in artificially combining the same elements which 

 are present in a living creature, and should produce 



that life was diffused over the world by means of Panspermia, or germs 

 capable of life. Although a skilful use is made of special types, this theory 

 is forced to rely upon such fantastic subsidiary hypotheses as to seem to 

 me altogether futile. 



