THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE 



menters have actually seen archebiosis artificially- 

 brought about. On the other hand, it is likely 

 to be maintained by most competent critics 

 that, while there may be no good reason for 

 denying the possibility of such a triumph of 

 experiment, we have not yet sufficient proof 

 that it has been really achieved. 



It should not be forgotten that the decision 

 of the more general question of the origin of 

 life on the earth's surface does not depend upon 

 the way in which this special controversy is 

 decided. While it is true that the success of 

 experiments like those of Dr. Bastian would 

 furnish conclusive inductive proof of archebi- 

 osis, it is also true that their complete failure can 

 in nowise be cited in evidence against the doc- 

 trine. On the one hand, the artificial produc- 

 tion of living things, by giving us ocular testi- 

 mony to the beginnings of life, would no doubt 

 enlighten us considerably as to the physical and 

 chemical conditions under which life originates ; 

 and it is therefore highly desirable that ex- 

 perimenters should be able to construct living 

 protoplasm in the laboratory, just as it was de- 

 sirable a few years ago that chemists should 

 be able to produce such organic compounds as 

 alcohol, sugar, and urea, — substances which 

 until lately were thought to be, for some mys- 

 terious reason, inaccessible to human art, but 

 which are now constructed with ease. But on 



TOL. II 3 S3 



