910 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVIII. No. 730 



abundant diffuse energy in sunligM and 

 other forms of solar radiance, and (8) 

 there were pervasive free energies in states 

 of ionization, in earth currents and in local 

 electric potentials. In short, it appears 

 that there -was a group of oxidizable sub- 

 stances -which might give up energy by 

 combination, but not in indefinite amounts ; 

 that there was an ample supply of sub- 

 stances already oxidized to the full, but 

 which could be partially deoxidized and 

 combined hypothetically to give the com- 

 plex organic , compounds, but only at the 

 expense of energy. A continuous source 

 of pervasive, diffuse energy was afforded 

 by sunlight and other forms of solar radi- 

 ance, perhaps aided by molecular agita- 

 tion through ionized states, diffuse electric 

 earth-currents, and local electric poten- 

 tials ; and these sources were ample to meet 

 the requirements of the case. 



Recalling the combination of functions 

 required, the most plausible suggestion is 

 offered by the cooperation of the unstable 

 carbides, nitrides, sulphides and phos- 

 phides with moisture, sunlight and allied 

 agencies. 



Somewhat after the analogy of germinal 

 matter, certain metallic carbides react at 

 ordinary terrestrial temperatures on the 

 accession of water, freeing energy and 

 raising the temperature, but retaining a 

 portion of their power of oxidation and at 

 the same time forming carbon compounds 

 of slightly more complex nature. The 

 phenomena of polymerization may inter- 

 vene in some cases and favor complex com- 

 pounds. Some of these compounds are 

 unsaturated, and by additions and sub- 

 stitutions may lead on to other complexi- 

 ties.^* If the reactions of these carbides 

 took place in the presence of the associated 

 unstable nitrides, sulphides, phosphides 

 and chlorides, there is reason to believe 



" Moissan, " The Electric Furnace," translation 

 by Moulpied, pp. 244 and 256. 



that more complex results would follow, 

 involving other organic elements. Ex- 

 perimental results do not greatly help on 

 this point, because high temperatures, 

 strong reagents and artificial conditions 

 have usually been employed in forming the 

 more complex compounds of the organic 

 elements. Violent agencies and extreme 

 conditions are excluded from organic ac- 

 tion, and hence presumably from any ante- 

 cedent action closely precedent to it. In 

 the case in hand, combination could be 

 abetted by evaporation, by porous con- 

 densation, by selective concentration, by 

 catalytic action, by confinement in pores, 

 cells and ducts, by capillary and osmotic 

 action, by genial temperatures, by sunlight 

 and by allied agencies. How far these 

 could go in giving rise to the higher com- 

 pounds of the organic type experimenta- 

 tion has not yet satisfactorily determined. 

 The analogy of the carbide action does not 

 go very far, but it is something that- it 

 takes even a short step in the direction so 

 characteristic of organic synthesis. 



While the foregoing combinations and 

 activities seem to us suggestive of the 

 most favorable primitive conditions, they 

 obviously do not warrant anything ap- 

 proaching an affirmation that organic syn- 

 thesis really took place in this way in the 

 soil, or that it is the offspring of inorganic 

 antecedents solely. It has been our en- 

 deavor to trace the early terrestrial condi- 

 tions and activities into as close an analogy 

 to those that dominate the organic king- 

 dom as present imperfect data permit. 

 The conservative considerations that make 

 it unsafe to assign organic genesis to an 

 early terrestrial age without reserve, 

 simply because it is not now in evidence, 

 find their complement in withholding 

 opinion respecting the possibility of such 

 genesis by any combination of inorganic 

 influences whatsoever, until it shall be ex- 

 perimentally settled. The great problem 



