VI POSSIBILITIES AND IMPOSSIBILITIES 199 



examples of supposed miraculous events. The 

 change of water into wine undoubtedly implies a 

 contradiction, and is assuredly " impossible," if we 

 are permitted to assume that the "elementary 

 bodies " of the chemists are, now and for ever, 

 immutable. Not only, however, is a negative 

 proposition of this kind incapable of proof, but 

 modern chemistry is inclining towards the contrary 

 doctrine. And if carbon can be got out of 

 hydrogen or oxygen, the conversion of water into 

 wine comes within range of scientific possibility it 

 becomes a mere question of molecular arrange- 

 ment. 



As for virgin procreation, it is not only clearly 

 imaginable, but modern biology recognises it as an 

 every-day occurrence among some groups of 

 animals. So with restoration to life after death. 

 Certain animals, long as dry as mummies, and, to 

 all appearance, as dead, when placed in proper 

 conditions resume their vitality. It may be said 

 that these creatures are not dead, but merely in a 

 condition of suspended vitality. That, however, is 

 only begging the question by making the incapa- 

 city for restoration to life part of the definition of 

 death. In the absence of obvious lesions of some 

 of the more important organs, it is no easy matter, 

 even for experts, to say that an apparently dead 

 man is incapable of restoration to life ; and, in 

 the recorded instances of such restoration, the 

 want of any conclusive evidence that the man 



