226 



NATURE 



[April 22, 1920 



The elaboration of microscopical technique in 

 the nineteenth century, leading- to the discovery of 

 the cell, with its nucleus and chromosomes, 

 afforded conclusive evidence that ovum and 

 spermatozoon contribute more or less equally to 

 the organisation of the new individual, and placed 

 upon a secure foundation the fundamental 

 generalisation that both are cell-units. Exactly 

 how they co-operate in initiating development is 

 the problem discussed by Prof. Lilfie, in the lig-ht 

 both of his own observations and of those of a 

 small army of fellow-workers in the same field, 

 pre-eminent amongst whom stand out the names 

 of Hertwig, Fol, Boveri, Delage, Loeb, and E. B. 

 Wilson. 



Thdfe- is one fact of fundamental importance 

 about which all observers seem now to be agreed, 

 and that is the twofold character of the process of 

 nortnal fertilisation ; not only does it stimulate the 

 eg-g to develop, it also results in the combination of 

 maternal and paternal chromosomes in the zygote 

 nucleus; -This combination is of the most far- 

 reaching sig'nificance for the theory of heredity, 

 but it appears, to have little or nothing to do with 

 the- " activation " of the ovum which leads to 

 developmenty and is only incidentally referred to 

 In the-'volurne before us. 



As tp liow the activation is effected, there seem 

 to heialmost as many views as there are observers. 

 It is well known,; however, that activation can take 

 place without the aid of a spermatozoon, and that 

 artificial parthenogenesis may be brought about 

 by a. g-reat variety of methods, involving . the 

 application of chemical or physical stimuli. The 

 problem is one of physiolog-ical chemistry, and 

 apparently many factors may be concerned in the 

 process. The secretion of a substance by the ^%%. 

 which causes the spermatozoa ,to agglutinate and 

 adhere. to the surface, appears to be one of the 

 most important. The formation of the so-called 

 " fertljisation-membrane " as a result of the im- 

 pact of' the spermatozoon and the consequent 

 cortical changes that take place in the ovum are 

 fully discussed, and the hypothesis is put forward 

 that a substance ("fertilizin ") exists in the cortex 

 which fixerts a ferment-like action as it penetrates 

 in)tQ, the eg-g-, or is carried in by the spermatozoon, 

 and it is sjug-gested that the spermatozoon itself 

 requires to be " fertilised " by passing through the 

 cof tex , befori^ it can play its proper part in the 

 eyents which take place internally and lead to 

 development. ., 



The book contains a vast aiinpunt of information 

 as to repent, discoveries and theories, and will 

 serve as a very useful guide to those who wish to 

 follow up this most intricate subject. A. D- 



NO. 2634, VOL. 105] 



Wisdom of Life and Existence. 



A Gentle Cynic: Being a Translation of the Book 

 of Koheleth, commonly known as Ecclesiastes, 

 stripped of Later Additions; also its Origin, 

 Growth, ■flnd Interpretation. By Prof. Morris 

 Jastrow, jun. Pp. 255. (Philadelpjiia and 

 London: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1919.) Price 

 95. net. 



PROF. MORRIS JASTROW, jun., of the 

 University of Pennsylvania, is well .known 

 among scholars as one of the best equipped 

 analysts and interpreters of Biblical . lore. In 

 this volume he has taken the Book of Koheleth 

 in its origin, growth, and interpretation, and 

 thrown a good deal of fresh light on the 

 subject. 



In a foreword of twenty pages is given a very 

 able sketch of the main principles .of Biblical 

 criticism and of the enormous gain which accrues 

 from a knowledge and acceptation of them. By 

 such means only are we able to pass from the 

 realm of confusion to that of clearness,. In. our 

 generation alone has the religious portion of man- 

 kind come to realise this necessity, and even 

 to-day the realisation is but a portion jof a small 

 minority. Yet only by the adoption of scientific 

 methods can the past be illumined in the realm 

 of rehgion, as it has been illumined in every other 

 field. 



The author passes on to examine the origin 

 and structure of the Book of Koheleth. H^re he 

 arrives at the conclusion that the book, as we 

 possess it to-day, - is an expanded and edited 

 rendering of an earlier version, which, when. it is 

 viewed without the accretions, presents a gentle 

 criticism of human life and existence. The 

 version knows nothing of what lies behind or 

 before us. It really deals with man's passage 

 through life, and emphasises the present infinitely 

 more than • either the past or the future. Man 

 is asked to make the most of the good things 

 that Nature brings to him; he is warned not to 

 worry about speculative things, such as his own 

 final goal or the destiny of the universe. In spite 

 of much that is hidden, life has a meaning here 

 and now; it has enjoyments which make it worth 

 while to live. 



Now, it is evident that such an empirical, 

 Epicurean view of life would never do as a 

 religious interpretation of the universe or of life 

 itself. As it stood originally, the Boojc of Koheleth 

 had no chance of entering into the sacred books. 

 It is therefore edited, added to, and polished so as 

 to furnish here and there pious injunctions of 

 rewards and punishment? in order that the life 



