340 THE HISTORY OF CREATION. 
It is evident, however, that this latter process is only of 
subordinate interest for our history of creation. It is much 
more important for us to solve the question, “Is there such, 
a thing as autogeny? Is it possible that an organism can 
arise, not out of pre-existing organic, but out of purely inor- 
ganic, matter?” Hence we can quietly lay aside all the 
numerous experiments which refer only to plasmogeny, 
which have been carried on very zealously during the last 
ten years, and which for the most part have had a negative 
result. For even supposing that the reality of plasmogeny 
were strictly proved, still autogeny would not be explained 
by it. 
The experiments on autogeny have likewise as yet 
furnished no certain and positive result. Yet we must at 
the outset most distinctly protest against the notion 
that these experiments have proved the impossibility of 
spontaneous generation in general. Most naturalists who 
have endeavoured to decide this question experimentally, 
and who, after having employed all possible precautionary 
measures, under well-ascertained conditions, have seen no 
organisms come into being, have straightway made the 
assertion, on the ground of these negative results: “'Fhat it 
is altogether impossible for organisms to come into existence 
by themselves without parental generation.” This hasty 
and inconsiderate assertion they have supported by the 
negative results of their experiments, which, after all, could 
prove nothing except that, under these or those highly 
artificial circumstances created by the experimenters them- 
selves, no organism was developed. From these experi- 
ments, which have been for the most part made under the 
most unnatural conditions, and in a _ highly artificial 
