2 DERIVATION OF ORGANIC BEINGS. 



But mth Organic Bodies it is different ; for in their case 

 not only must their ultimate chemical elements be present 

 in some shape or other, but they must be present as com- 

 bined by the prior operation of the Hving powers of indi- 

 viduals of a like kind into fertilized germs or other repro- 

 ductive bodies. If such a germ or reproductive body has 

 been normally constituted, then, and then only, mil the 

 application of certain appropriate influences of the nature of 

 light, heat, chemical action, &c., become the means of its 

 being developed into a body eventually resembling that 

 from which it was itself derived. 



§ 2. On the validity of this point of distinction between 

 organic and inorganic forms, naturalists and physiologists, 

 after some vacillation, are probably now pretty well agreed ; 

 the most recent researches affording as strong evidence 

 against the origination of organic beings de novo, as any of 

 a negative kind can well be. It is well known that organic 

 matter in the state of decomposition into which it passes so 

 readily when exposed to air and moisture at a suitable tem- 

 perature, is found to swarm with minute forms of animal 

 and vegetable life. But it has been shown by repeated, and 

 apparently conclusive experiments, that no such develop- 

 ment of living beings will occur if all the materials concerned 

 in the experiment — that is, both the air and the organic 

 matter, with water and other adjuncts — be subjected to 

 processes which effectually destroy all particles they may 

 contain of the nature of eggs or seeds, endued with a latent 

 capacity of vital action ; and this, though care be taken not 

 to alter their nature so as to unfit them in any way for the 

 support of life once developed. 



The experiments of Professor Schultze, of Berlin, are 

 among the first of the kind which were performed \vith 

 the precision necessaiy in operations of this nature. They 

 consisted in passing the air which was allowed to come in 

 contact with the decomposing matter through a fluid (oil 



