DISCUSSION 89 



tion, although there were many digressions from the 

 subject proposed for discussion. Eleven speakers 

 took part in the debate, and with the exception of 

 Dr. Thesing, the last speaker, who did not commit 

 himself, all were opposed to me. 



I may remark that hi compliance with Professor 

 Plate's suggestion, just before the tenth speaker 

 came forward, after it had struck eleven, the chair- 

 man suspended proceedings for five minutes, in 

 order, as he said, to give any members of the 

 audience who were tired an opportunity of with- 

 drawing. Nevertheless the audience persisted in 

 remaining to hear my closing address. 



I need not say much here by way of introduction 

 to my antagonists' speeches. Professor Plate spoke 

 on the whole to the point, although his representation 

 of my views was not free from obvious misinter- 

 pretations. To some extent, however, he strayed 

 from his subject, and especially in his peroration 

 he made a personal attack upon Wasmann as not 

 being free to carry on his investigations. 



Of the other speakers those whose remarks were 

 most to the point were Professor Dahl, Dr. Julius- 

 burger, Dr. Schmidt -Jena, and Dr. Thesing. 

 Professor von Hansemann allowed himself to digress 

 from the scientific subject proposed for discussion, 

 whilst Count Paul von Hoensbroech's speech de- 

 generated into a tirade against the Catholic Church. 

 As his words had nothing to do with my subject, 

 I may dismiss them without further consideration, 



