1872.] 



Evolution of Life from Lifeless Matter. 



157 



out of corruption illustrates this. The theory involves the discovery of a 

 new property of matter, the property that certain compounds (undefined 

 nitrogenous particles in the atmosphere) must have of decomposing mole- 

 cules of other substances with which they are in contact, and building out of 

 their constituent atoms substances of a much more complicated nature, with- 

 out the exertion of external forces ; even beyond this, they must be capable 

 of arranging those compounds into definite forms. In the course of nature 

 complex substances do not increase but simplify their molecular complexity. 

 jBy oxidation vegetable products are resolved into carbonic acid and water : 

 we find no tendency in these oxides of carbon and hydrogen to become re- 

 duced to such products as sugar, starch, or cellulose ; nay, much further, 

 we know no process by which such transformation might be effected, still 

 less are we acquainted with any internal forces which can mould them into 

 cells with functions to perform. On this account a very great deal of 

 thoroughly sound experimental evidence is necessary to establish the doc- 

 trine of evolution of life de novo. But, so far as our present knowledge 

 guides us, whether we term it spontaneous generation, abiogenesis, or arche- 

 biosis, the process by which living things spring from lifeless matter must 

 be said to be only ideal. 



Note. — In describing certain organisms as mucors, those thecasporous 

 fungi are meant of which Ascophora mucedo is the type ; they are described 

 by Pasteur as mucedinees ; and he seems to include in this description Pe- 

 nicillium, which is basidiosporous *. Mucors he classes as those vegetable 

 organisms which take the form generally on the surface of a liquid of a thin 

 pellicle with a more or less fatty or gelatinous appearance. Such matter 

 I have noticed accompanying conferva. The fungus in chains found in 

 urine is identical with that supposed by Pasteur f to cause the pro- 

 duction of carbonate of ammonia from urea; while those small cellules 

 without a nucleus, which I surmise, for a reason already stated, to be 

 Torula in an early stage, he believes to be specifically different]:. With 

 regard to filters of nitrocellulose, I some time since wished to modify 

 ordinary filters so as to make them more easily combustible in the crucible 

 when used for quantitative analysis. This I tried by dipping them in 

 strong nitric acid, washing in water, and finally in ammonia. As far as my 

 recollection goes, I obtained a denser kind of paper, which answered the 

 purpose very well. On endeavouring recently to make this variety of filter- 

 paper, I met with the same difficulty which Prof. Bloxam tells me some 

 years ago he encountered when attempting the same object, namely, the 

 parchmentizing of the paper, so as to render it waterproof. Either I have 

 not used the proper strength of acid necessary, or else my former experience 

 rested on the formation of nitrate of ammonia within the fibres of the 

 paper. 



* Ann. de Chimie et dc Phys. torn, lxir, p. 47. t Ibid. p. 52. + Ibid, p. b2. 



