xl PREFACE. 



1878, between Professor Tyndall and Dr. 

 Bastian) that the theory was completely 

 overthrown, and that it never would re- 

 cover from the crushing blow which it 

 then received. The theory was then " de- 

 feated along the whole line,' ' as one Scientist 

 admitted, and Professor Drummond justly 

 says, that " the heresy of spontaneous gene- 

 ration is so thoroughly discredited now, 

 that scarcely any authority will lend his 

 name to it " (p. 88). Nevertheless, Mr. Drum- 

 mond has stated the doctrine of " spon- 

 taneous generation" so incautiously, by 

 writing, " A thousand modern pulpits every 

 seventh day are preaching the doctrine of 

 spontaneous generation; it is the leading 

 theology of the modern novel; and much 

 of the cultured writing of the day devotes 

 itself to the earnest preaching of this 

 Gospel " that he must not be surprised if 

 he were accused of believing it, just as he 

 has been of holding the doctrine of an- 

 nihilation ! ! ! (see pp. 61 67). 



2. Mr. Newton, in his Remarks on 

 the way in which Professor Drummond 



