APPENDIX 



THE PROPER USE OF THE TERM BIOLOGY.* 



By Theodore Gill. 



From the Presidential Address delivered January 28, 1881. 



The father of modern natural history, following in the footsteps of his prede- 

 cessors, recognized three kingdoms of nature, and allowed them equal rank in 

 his scheme of classification. These were severally the subjects of the sciences 

 designated as mineralogy, botany, and zoology. The contrasts between the char- 

 acteristics of the first and the last two, and the generalities which have since 

 compelled us to employ a term in common for botany and zoology, were not then 

 appreciated. The same method and the same system of terminology were used 

 by Linnaeus for the description of the mineral as for the vegetable and animal 

 kingdoms. Nevertheless suggestions had been made still earlier towards a segre- 

 gation under a common head of the kingdoms of organic nature. 



As early as 1587, Cristofle de Savigny, in a scarce and little-known work 

 (Tableaux accomplis de tous les arts liberaux, Paris,) contrasted the organic 

 kingdoms under a common denominator, psychologie, now universally accepted 

 with a very different signification. The suggestion in question, however, fell still 

 born. It was not till 1802 and 1803 that a term destined to general adoption 

 was proposed. Then the illustrious Lamarck made use of the word Biologie 

 as a common name under which to consider the phenomena presented by organic 

 nature. A number of words were subsequently urged as substitutes and as 

 better, e. g., Somiologie by Rafinesque, in 1814; Physique Organique by Comte, 

 in 1830; Organomie by d'Omalius d'Halloy, in 1838 ; Zoologie by Jean Reynaud, 

 in 1843; Organologies Gerdy,in 1844; and, lastly, Zoonomy by Baden Powell. 

 None of them, however, have been received with favor, and, slowly at first, 

 afterward by general consent, Biology was accepted as a term much needed 

 to group the many generalities enunciable respecting animals and plants. The old 

 professorships of natural history or of zoology and botany combined are now 

 being replaced by professorships of biology, and almost pari passu with exces- 

 sive (because exclusive) cultivation of special departments of botany and zoology 

 has been a tendency to combine on common ground to consider the general laws 

 and principles affecting alike the organic kingdoms of nature, and by students 

 agreeing in the method which they employ in their several pursuits. As a result 

 of this feeling has been born the Biological Society of Washington. 



*Much discussion having attended the consideration of a name for the "Biological 

 Society of Washington " the subject was treated of in the first presidential address, and 

 that portion thereof relating to the question at issue is here reproduced. 



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