ORIGIN OF LIFE. 47 
spective of the nature of the fluid in which it may 
be immersed; and it has been established that 
living matter of the same kind will constantly make 
its appearance in many suitable fluids—safely pro- 
tected from contamination—within a few days after 
the fluids have been exposed to the very much more 
destructive temperature of 212° F.—to say nothing of 
still higher grades of heat. What conclusion, then, 
can be drawn by men of science, but that Archebiosis 
still occurs—that living matter, like crystalline matter, 
is still capable of arising de novo, or independently 
of pre-existing germs? The Evolutionist’s belief in 
the uniformity of nature becomes still further justi- 
fied by evidence. 
Stripped from all unnecessary and unessential 
complications, such is our present state of knowledge 
on this problem as to the present occurrence or non- 
occurrence of Archebiosis. It is easy, of course, for 
any person who does not investigate a subject for 
himself, and who continues to disregard the investi- 
gations of others as long as their results are opposed 
to views which he may chance to have adopted, to 
continue unshaken by the course of events. But it 
is none the less rash and disingenuous for him to 
renew (without comment or rectification) the procla- 
mation that his particular view is still “victorious 
along the whole line,” after the inexorable logic of 
