96 THE BIOLOGY OF DAILY LIFE. 



sample extracted for a special purpose, and not pre- 

 tending to be even an outline sketch of the " THEORY," 

 and giving nothing whatever of the practical portion of the 

 system that is here presented for his consideration. 



Before beginning a series of quotations from his 

 writings, a few words about the scientific life and 

 training of Joseph Wallace may help to explain some- 

 thing both of the nature of his discoveries and how he 

 was led to them. 



In his early youth he was much given to experi- 

 menting electricity and chemistry being his favourite 

 sciences. He was, as a very young man, engaged in 

 the business of malting and distilling. Thus he was 

 led to study the theory and practice of fermentation. 

 Having been early initiated into all the secrets of wort- 

 making and brewing, he learned the exact limits of 

 temperature at which the yeast displays its varied 

 activities. 



His special training, aided by luminous common- 

 sense the best of all scientific endowments saved 

 him from falling into an error, which, like the Teuto- 

 burgian passes to the gallant legions of the Emperor 

 Augustus, under the brave but unfortunate Quintilius 

 Varus, has proved a hopeless stumbling-block to hosts 

 of physiologists, and some of their most illustrious 

 leaders. 



Every reader of works on physiology, especially by 

 the popular authorities, can see for himself a very 

 ludicrous thing. It may not strike the reader, it does 

 not appear to have been noticed by thousands of 

 teachers, but once pointed out, every intelligent reader 

 wonders why he has never detected the absurdity for 

 himself. 



