ORDINARY MEETING, February 19, 1883. 
H. Cadman Jones, Esq. in the Chair. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 
The following Paper was then read by the Author : — 
ON CERTAIN THEORIES OF LIFE. By Surgeon- 
General C. A. Gordon, M.D., C.B., Honorary Physician 
to Her Majesty the Queen. In France, Officier de la 
Legion d^Honneur, &c. 
SYLLABUS. 
1. a. “ Science ” in the sixteenth century. 
b. “ Scientists 55 of that period. 
2. Paracelsus and his theories. 
3. Bishop Hall. 
4. Democritus— Frascator. 
5. Chinese Philosophy. 
6. Buddhistic Philosophy. 
7. English thought. 
8. Possibility founded on assumption. 
9. The microcosm and the macrocosm. 
10. A comparison and a contrast. 
11. Views combated. 
12. Latest theories. 
13. Errors of conception. 
14. Experiments and scepticism. 
15. A scientific Frankenstein. 
16. Descartes. 
17. One animal ; not many. 
18. Phenomena of life. 
19. Summary and conclusion. 
1. (a.) TN the sixteenth century the doctrines of astrology and 
JL of alchemy held ascendancy in Germany. Abuses 
of every kind were rampant ; superstitions reigned supreme ; 
