OCCURRENCE OF ARCHEBIOSIS 143 



When Bacteria are introduced into the amnionic tartrate solution 

 unfortunately we have no means of knowing whether origination, 

 as well as growth and multiplication, occurs. We do not know for 

 certain whether the influence of a pre-existing nucleus is relatively 

 more potent or more necessary in the case of living matter than it 

 is in the case of crystalline matter, but it ought not to be assumed 

 to be so except upon evidence of a clear and unambiguous nature. 

 The probabilities, therefore, would certainly seem to be altogether 

 in favour of the continuance of a natural process like Archebiosis 

 after it had been once initiated, especially when we see how easily 

 the ' growth ' of living matter from mere inorganic elements is 

 occurring over almost all parts of the earth's surface. Let us look 

 now, however, to the principal adverse considerations usually 

 brought forward. 



Much stress has been laid by certain writei-s upon the fact that 

 " the doctrine of spontaneous or equivocal generation has been 

 chased successively to lower and lower stations in the world of 

 organised beings as our means of investigation have been improved."' 

 So that, as another eminent writer says, " if some apparent excep- 

 tions still exist they are of the lowest and simplest forms." = And 

 it is usually inferred from this latter fact that further knowledge 

 and improved means of observation will prove these apparent 

 exceptions to be no exceptions to the supposed general rule — omne 

 vivum ex vivo. A consideration of this kind seems to have power- 

 fully influenced Prof. Huxley. 



But much confusion exists in reference to this point which needs 

 to be removed. The absurd ancient notions on the subject of 

 ' Equivocal or Spontaneous Generation ' to the effect that rats were 

 produced from the mud of the Nile, eels from the mud of rivers 

 generally (Aristotle), that bees could be born from the putrefying 

 flesh of an ox (Virgil), and other similar fancies have, of course, no 

 bearing upon the subject at all. Then, again, under this term 

 ' Spontaneous Generation,' it has been the custom to confuse two 

 wholly distinct processes — namely Archebiosis and Heterogenesis 

 — which require to be considered and dealt with altogether apart. 

 We have nothing to say concerning Heterogenesis at present ; we 

 are considering Archebiosis only, and in regard to this process no 



• Prof, (now Lord) Lister, Introductory Lecture (University of Edinburgh), 

 1869, p. 12. 

 ° Mr. Justice Grove (Presidential Address) Rept. of Brit. Assocn. i865, p. 71. 



