THE 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
MARCH, 1884. 
I. THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL LIMITS 
TO POPULATION. 
* N a recent work" of merit, and which derives additional 
importance from the auspices under which its contents 
weie hist put forward, we noticed a very strange quota- 
tion. 1 he author gives as “ very suggestive ” the following 
extract from the “ Progress and Poverty ” of Mr. Henry 
George “ That the earth could maintain a thousand 
billions of people as easily as a thousand millions is a 
necessary deduction from the manifest truth that, at least as 
far as our agency is concerned, matter is eternal and force 
(energy) must for ever continue to adt.” 
It is, of course, under common circumstances, no part of 
our duty to discuss the utterances of politico-social 
reformers ” and ochlogogues. When such utterances, 
however, betray a misconception or a misapplication of sci- 
entific truths, we feel bound to put in our protest. Never 
was there a more fitting season for such a protest than at 
present. We are perplexed — almost pained — to find out by 
what process of thought Mr. George has come to regard the 
indesti udtibility of matter and the conservation of energy in 
the light which he manifestly does. 
If both matter and energy were to come to a sudden end 
this day next year, or this day ten years, it is plain that up 
to that date the scope for animal — and in particular for 
human — existence would remain precisely what it is. If, 
* Energy in Nature. By W. Lant Carpenter, B.Sc. 
VOL. VI. (THIRD SERIES.) K 
