THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 51 



sions strongly, and we may safely say that for a whole 

 century it kept up a desperate war in the very heart of 

 the scientific world. Illustrious names figured in both 

 camps, and a full peace has not yet been signed. 



At first there was a great rage in favour of the resur- 

 rectionists. The Abbe Spallanzani, who resolutely moved 

 in the van, braving the purgatory and thunders of the 

 Vatican, made numerous proselytes, and experimented 

 before any person. On the contrary Fontana, one of his 

 adherents, was more timid, and with great reason recoiled 

 before the consequences which must naturally follow 

 resurrection. He only experimented in darkness and 

 concealment, with some confidential friends who went to 

 Florence. "He dare not write upon the subject," said 

 the intellectual Dupaty, "he fears being excommunicated. 

 All the power of the grand-duke could not save him." 



In fact, materialism rears its head behind these resur- 

 rections. Is not the restoration of life to a dead being, 

 by making it imbibe a little water, subordinating existence 

 to chemico-physical powers ? Is it not the greatest height 

 of heresy that it would be joossible to profess ? 



The revolting paradox upheld by the physiologist of 

 Pavia did not allow his conscience to be quite at rest, and 

 he, a prey to doubt and remorse, seems as if he wanted to 

 justify himself "An animal," he says, and the illustrious 

 abbd never spoke with more reason, "which revives after 

 death, and revives as often as one will, is a phenomenon so 

 unheard of that it appears improbable and ^paradoxical; it 

 confuses all our ideas of animal life." 



Antique credulity was wiser than modern science. 

 Pliny said that the phenix only revived once; our modern 

 palingenesists maintain that they can renew the revival of 

 the Eotiferte as often as they like ! 



