SPONTANEOUS GENERATION 203 



in themselves in the geometrical conception of 

 asymmetry applicable to dynamical phenomena at 

 all except in so far as these deal with asymmetric 

 material structures such as quartz, crystals, or 

 organic molecules containing asymmetric carbon 

 atoms? He thus recapitulates the conclusions at 

 which he arrived that " non-living asymmetrical 

 matter — the matter of which the inorganic world 

 is composed — interacting under the influence of 

 symmetric forces to form asymmetric compounds 

 always yields either pairs of enantiomorphous 

 molecules or pairs of enantiomorphous groups 

 united within the molecule, the result being in 

 either case mutual compensation and consequent 

 optical inactivity. The same will hold good of 

 symmetric matter interacting under the influence 

 of asymmetric forces, supposing that such forces 

 exist, provided that the latter are left to produce 

 their efiect under conditions of pure chance." If 

 these conclusions be correct, as he believes they are, 

 " then the absolute origin of the compounds of one- 

 sided asymmetry to be found in the living world 

 is a mystery as profound as the absolute origin of 

 life itself. The two phenomena are intimately 

 connected, for, as we have seen, these asymmetric 

 compounds make their appearance with life and 

 are inseparable from it." 



Pasteur, for similar reasons, held the belief that 

 asymmetric compounds could not arise except under 

 the influence of life. 



Karl Pearson and FitzGerald, on the other hand, 



