ORIGIN OF LIFE. 17 
matter, the physical agencies which freely occasion 
the growth of living matter are now incapable of 
causing its origination. 
Why, we may fairly ask, should a supposed differ- 
ence be erected by Evolutionists between Origination 
and Growth in the case of living matter, whilst no 
one -dreams of making any such distinction in refer- 
ence to crystalline matter? Is it true that the 
process of growth differs from the process of origi- 
nation, and, if so, in what respects? Philosophically 
speaking there is little difference. Take the case of 
the formation of the “silver tree” cited by Professor 
Tyndall. A weak galvanic current is passed through 
a solution of nitrate of silver, and simultaneously in 
a first increment of time a number of molecules of 
oxygen and of silver begin to aggregate independently 
into crystals of oxide of silver ; in a second increment 
of time the operation of the same causes~ produces 
similar results, only now part of the new crystalline 
matter forms in connection with the existing recently- 
formed germs of crystals, though part of it may still 
aggregate independently. During a third, a fourth, 
and all succeeding increments of time in which the 
same causes operate amidst similar conditions, similar 
results must ensue. But, taking the process of origi- 
nation that occurs in the first increment of time, 
c 
