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as matter, or derived from any properties in connexion with the elements 
which enter into the composition of the living matter. Whether the genera- 
tion of living matter was spontaneous or not cannot be proved, but much 
scientific speculation is built upon the theory of spontaneous generation. 
However necessary such a theory may be to the doctrine of evolution, there 
are no scientific facts which can at all warrant the conclusion that non-living 
matter only, under any conceivable circumstances, can be converted into 
living matter, or at any previous time has, by any combination, or under any 
conditions that may have existed, given rise to the formation of anything 
which possesses, or has possessed, life. 
Mr. D. Howard, V.P.I.C. — I feel that I cannot do less than add my per- 
sonal thanks to those of others, for the exceedingly interesting and able 
way in which Dr. Wallich has brought this subject before us to-night. The 
subject is one the importance of which we cannot over-estimate. Professor 
Beale has very clearly put before us the question as to what is the real issue 
between Haeckel and Dr. Wallich ; namely, whether living protoplasm is, or 
is not, essentially different from dead protoplasm. We have in this sub- 
stance called bathy bins— which certainly did seem surprising until the 
marvel vanished, in a great measure, under Dr. Wallich’s investigations — a 
body of matter that was supposed to be neither living nor dead, a body 
which nourished itself, and which remained continuously in this one state 
of existence, and which yet had no organisation and no parts ; it is only 
the careful observation of those who, like Dr. Wallich, have made the micro- 
scope their study, that can be brought to bear in a satisfactory manner on 
this bathybius theory. We now know how completely it is shown that, 
throughout that scum of life which is found extending over so wide an area at 
the bottom of the sea, there are living and dead organisms, and that there is 
an absolute distinction between those monera which are living and the dead 
monera. Therefore, we have the problem fully decided against those who 
maintain the spontaneous generation theory, the difference being as com- 
plete as that which exists between living and dead human bodies. It 
is only the minutest microscopic investigation that will show all this. In 
microscopes of only a moderate power this mass of ocean slime seems to 
possess nowhere any individuality, but appears to be altogether unorganised, 
and it is certainly surprising to find it proved that this large mass of matter 
is composed of individual organisms, the life of each of which can be traced 
with all the beautiful and minute accuracy with which Dr. Wallich has 
brought it before us — each monad having its own mysterious life, more 
diflScult to imagine even than our own, the very simplicity of the 
organism making the problem stupendously difficult. Therefore, to come 
back to the point from which we start, even in the very lowest stratum 
we are no nearer the solution of the problem of life than we are when 
dealing with the highest. If Haeckel, who has boldly asserted this low 
form of life to be the secret of the origin of life, would but look the 
facts in the face, he would be obliged to confess that he is as little 
able to explain the origin of life in the minute organisms of which we 
