ORIGIN OF LIFE. 59 
Our present position may perhaps be best illus- 
trated by tabulating in parallel columns a statement 
of the principal reasons and facts which seem to 
support the hypothesis of the present occurrence of 
Archebiosis and Heterogenesis, but which are more 
or less inexplicable by the hypothesis of Pansper- 
mism and an exclusive Life-transmission doctrine. 
I am compelled to arrange the matter in this 
apparently one-sided form, because I know of no 
large classes of facts adverse to the hypothesis 
of the present continuance of Archebiosis and 
Heterogenesis. 
In support of the present occur- 
rence of Archebiosis. 
1. Our belief in the Continuity 
of natural phenomena seems to re- 
quire it. 
2. The fact that crystalline 
matter still comes into being, or 
originates under the majority of 
those conditions in which its 
growth occurs. 
3. The fact that the microsco- 
pical evidence in favour of origi- 
nation is similar in the case of 
crystalline and living matter— 
both appear to arise de xovo. 
Against Panspermism and an ex- 
clusive Life-transmission doctrine. 
1. The postulation of an in- 
fringement of the Continuity of 
natural phenomena without ade- 
quate cause. 
2. The impossibility of explain- 
ing why living matter, which still 
grows under the most varied con- 
ditiuns, should. have ceased to 
originate under many of them. 
3. This apparent de zovo origin 
of specks of living matter is only 
to be denied by the assumption 
of their derivation from invisible 
germs pre-existing in the fluid— 
and for this assumption there is no 
independent warrant. 
evidence so far as these particular doctrines are concerned, might not 
feel called uvon to admit.—See ‘The Beginnings of Life,” vol. i, 
pp. 244-249. 
