Notes and Comments. 295 



no fault in manipulation or fallacy in observation, I should 

 find it simpler to believe that the germs of such organisms have 

 resisted the effects of prolonged heat than that they became 

 generated spontaneously. If spontaneous generation is pos- 

 sible, we cannot expect it to take the form of living beings 

 which show so marked a degree of differentiation, both struc- 

 tural and functional, as the organisms which are described 

 as making their appearance in these experimental flasks.' 



for:mation of living substance. 



' Nor should we expect the spontaneous generation of 

 living substance of any kind to occur in a fluid the organic 

 constituents of which have been so altered by heat that they 

 can retain no sort of chemical resemblance to the organic 

 constituents of living matter. If the formation of life — of 

 living substance — is possible at the present day — and for my 

 own part I see no reason to doubt it — -a boiled infusion of 

 organic matter, and still less of inorganic matter, is the last 

 place in which to look for it. Our mistrust of such evidence 

 as has yet been brought forward need not, however, preclude 

 us from admitting the possibility of the formation of living 

 from non-living substance. Setting aside, as devoid o'" scientific 

 foundation, the idea of immediate supernatural intervention 

 in the first production of life, we are not only justified in 

 believing, but compelled to believe, that living matter must 

 have owed its origin to causes similar in character to those which 

 have been instrumental in producing all other forms of matter 

 in the universe ; in other words, to a process of gradual evolu- 

 tion.' 



;(^I0,000. 



After the presidential address, the Lord Provost of Dundee 

 had a pleasant surprise for the members. This was nothing less 

 than a cheque for £10,000, given unconditionally to the Asso- 

 ciation, by Mr. J. K. Caird, ' for the advancement of science.' 

 This gift, remarkable to state, seems to be unique in the annals 

 of the British Association. Each year various sums of money 

 are voted to the committees of research, etc., such sums varying 

 according to the success of the meeting. The extent of the 

 research carried on by the various committees during the 

 intervals between the annual meetings is largely governed 

 by the amount voted at the general meeting. Consequently 

 it is clear that the greater the sum available, the better for the 

 advancement of science. Yet it has remained for Dundee, and 

 Mr. Caird, to carry on this excellent work independently of 

 the income derived from any particular meeting. It is to be 

 hoped that this magnificent example may be followed in future 

 years. 



.1912 Oct. I. 



