The Presidenfs Address. By L. 8. Beale, F.B.8. 193 



matter its wonderful properties, what should we see ? What is it 

 that happens at the moment when a little complex organic matter 

 dissolved in water passes from the non-living to the living state ? 

 Should we see atoms being arranged and entering into new com- 

 binations according to some physical properties inherent in the 

 very matter — atoms combining according to their chemical affinities ; 

 or should we see the complex chemical compounds of the pabulum 

 being changed, their elements being somehow torn asunder from 

 their combinations, or rather quietly separating from one another in 

 obedience to some force or power of which we cannot form any 

 accurate conception ? The most extraordinary active atomic move- 

 ments must be taking place, and in the quietest possible manner. 

 Certainly the phenomena which accompany ordinary chemical decom- 

 positions in non-living matter do not occur. No two things in 

 this world can be more dissimilar than man's chemical laboratory 

 and nature's laboratory in this living matter. That the formation 

 of the germ is to be accounted for by the operation of the ordinary 

 forces of matter is one of the most absurd of absurd propositions ; 

 but that the idea of such an origin should still be entertained and 

 taught by a physicist or chemist is unaccountable. 



There are no actions in non-living matter with which the 

 actions of living matter can with any degree of fau-ness or accuracy 

 be compared. No argument in essential particulars can be pointed 

 out which would justify the use of the word " analogy " without 

 doing violence to truth and cheating the reason. To maintain the 

 identity of the vital and inorganic forces on the ground of some 

 fancied analogy between vital action and crystallization is most 

 wrong and wilfully misleading, for the fallacy has been many times 

 exposed and exploded. Between a crystal and living matter there 

 is not the slightest analogy, for the one can be destroyed and 

 caused to re-form as many times as we like, while the living matter 

 cannot be even dissolved. In the attempt to dissolve it, it dies, and 

 cannot be reproduced. 



It is obvious that before particles of living matter pass from the 

 living into the formed state their component atoms, or groups of 

 them, must somehow be made to take up a definite position with 

 respect to one another. Such changes of place as must occur can 

 only be brought about by some peculiar force, property, or power, 

 the action of which is temporary. Seeing that the changes in 

 question can take place only while matter is in the temporary 

 living state — this matter having been detached from matter in the 

 same living condition — the force or power in question must be of 

 an exceptional nature, and of an order dilierent from that to which 

 the ordinary forces or powers of non-living matter belong. This 

 wonderful living power which is postulated causes the atoms or the 

 particles of the matter to take up certain positions, favourable to 



