46 THE UNIVERSE. 



Nevertheless, Spallanzani seems at times to have had 

 serious doubts on the subject of revivification, for in one 

 part of his writings he speaks of it as constituting the, most 

 paradoxical truth that the history of the animal kingdom 

 offers us, and that we cannot manifest too much dread of, or 

 be too suspicious about, truths of this kind, a very sen- 

 sible remark. 



This strange and thrilling question aroused men's pas- 

 sions strongly, and we may safely say that for a whole cen- 

 tury it kept up a desperate war in the very heart of the 

 scientific world. Illustrious names figured in both camps, 

 and a full peace has not yet been signed. 



At first there was a great rage in favor of the resurrec- 

 tionists. The Abbe Spallanzani, who resolutely moved in 

 the van, braving the opposition and thunders of the Vati- 

 can, made numerous proselytes, and experimented openly. 

 On the contrary, Fontana, one of his adherents, was more 

 timid, and with great reason recoiled before the conse- 

 quences which must naturally follow resurrection. He only 

 experimented in darkness and concealment, with some con- 

 fidential friends who went to Florence. " He dare not 

 write upon the subject," said the intellectual Dupaty; "he 

 fears being excommunicated. All the power of the grand 

 duke could not save him." 



In fact, materialism rears its head behind these resurrec- 

 tions. Is not the restoration of life to a dead being, by 

 making it imbibe a little water, subordinating existence to 

 chemico-physical powers ? Is it not the greatest height of 

 heresy that it would be possible to profess ? 



The revolting paradox upheld by Spallanzani did not al- 



