72 DEATH AND RESURRECTION. 



According to the previously prevail- 

 ing vitalistic doctrine a specific life- 

 force existed, present and active in all 

 organic processes. The conceptions in 

 regard to these processes were, how- 

 ever, very dim, and the reason was that 

 the problem of combustion had not yet 

 been solved. 



This problem may be said to be the 

 very key to the chemical explanation 

 of an organism. The ancient mystery 

 of fire was first solved by Lavoisier 

 after Scheele and Priestly had discov- 

 ered oxygen. The solution of this com- 

 plicated question not only became the 

 starting point for a new and rapid 

 evolution of chemistry, it also almost 

 immediately threw a clear light on the 

 innermost recesses of the organism. 



The elementary constituents of the 

 organism and their origin were known 

 before, and it now became also possible 

 to explain the great store of energy 

 that the living being possesses. To as- 

 sume a specific life-force seemed super- 

 fluous. Life-force, from having been the 



