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} 
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xiv THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE 
importance. They might be open to conviction 
as to the possibility of living things arising by 
previously unknown methods from the matter of 
pre-existing living things (Heterogenesis); while 
they would regard the origin of living things from 
not-living materials to be altogether impossible. 
It may be easily understood that the general 
views entertained concerning Life—its nature, or 
the meaning to be attached to it as a term—exercise 
no small influence in producing a variation in the 
point of view of different writers in regard to 
Archebiosis. Thus, statements which would appear 
to many to be consistent only with a belief in 
Archebiosis are, when taken in conjunction with the 
general views of the writers, often found not to 
warrant any such conclusion. 
This may be illustrated by reference to the views 
of Burdach, the physiologist, from whom the term 
‘“Heterogenesis”” has been derived. In the first 
volume of his ‘ Physiologia,” published in 1826, 
Burdach introduced the words /fomogenza and 
fleterogenia, as names for the two principal class 
distinctions in the mode of origin of living things. 
Flomogenia was the class name applied to the 
processes by which individuals result from pre- 
existing living things similar to themselves in 
organisation ; while //efervogenza was the class name 
for processes by which living things arise from the 
matter of pre-existing organisms Jdelonging to a 
totally different species—the production, that is, of 
alien forms of life from the actual substance of 
organisms or their germs. 
