90 CKOONIAN LECTURES 



would occur. Where there was varnish, it 

 would act chemically on the resin ; where the 

 fire was burning, it would burn ; and in our 

 eyes it would act chemically, increasing the 

 actions there. 



From these glimpses into the physiology, 

 pathology, and therapeutics of the future, each 

 of which might well have been the subject of 

 many lectures, it is evident that a great change 

 will take place in our ideas in the biological 

 sciences when we follow the progress of know- 

 ledge in the abiological sciences. 



As the abiological sciences have passed, or 

 are passing, through three different stages of 

 perfect and imperfect separation and perfect 

 union of ideas regarding ponderable matter 

 and force, so it is reasonable to expect that 

 ultimately we shall pass through the same three 

 stages of ideas regarding the union of matter 

 and force in the biological sciences ; and, if so, 

 we shall arrive at an idea of life which will be 

 based on the perfect union of ponderable 

 matter and force. 



If biology be disposed to profit by the pro- 

 gress of the other sciences, we must expect 

 that all we shall know of vital force will be got 



