208 
these phenomena appeared. I myself entertain very strongly the view of 
Mr. Howard, that life is essentially distinct from any mechanical crystal- 
lizing force ; but I was rather puzzled by the statements of Dr. Bastian, 
and my judgment has been somewhat in suspense as to this theory of the 
formation of a lower order of animal and vegetable life in fluids. I hope that 
Mr. Howard, in his reply, will say a few words on the subject. 
Mr. W. Melmoth Walters. — I am also anxious to ask a question. Is 
not the difficulty of comparing crystallization with life one of our great diffi- 
culties here? In the case of crystallization we are able to analyze the 
substance thoroughly, but in that of life we are absolutely unable to analyze 
what life is. When we get to that germ there is a failure of analyzation, 
and therefore the comparison between the two is not complete. In the one 
case we are able to analyze all the parts, and to know exactly the mechanical 
motions that bring them together ; but in the other, we have no power of 
analyzing the actual motive power of the whole, which is the vital spark. 
Therefore there is no parallel between the two cases. 
Mr. J. E. Howard. — I shall be very happy to do what I can to answer the 
questions which have been put to me. The subject of biogenesis forms the 
title of a long paper in the “ Critiques and Addresses” of Professor Huxley, 
and I cannot do better than refer Dr. Thornton to the passage* in which he 
sums up the long chain of evidence on the subject. Dr. Huxley shows very 
clearly, as he is well able to do when he takes a subject in hand, the 
deficiency of the experiments seeming to favour the doctrine, and the excel- 
lence, on the other hand, of the researches of Pasteur who takes the opposite 
view. The experiments in question were directed to this end : by means of 
various contrivances which I cannot now attempt to explain in a moment, to 
secure that the air which entered certain flasks should be entirely filtered 
from all the germs which it ordinarily contains ; it was provided that the 
water in the flasks should be boiled (although by the way that ia not suffi- 
cient, because it has been found that boiling will not destroy all the germs), 
and then that this perfectly pure air and perfectly pure water should be left 
together, and if it could be shown that perfectly pure air and perfectly pure 
water left in contact for a certain length of time produced living creatures, 
we should of course have the proof of what is called abiogenesis, that is to 
say, spontaneous generation. This controversy has been carried on to a very 
great extent in France, and with exceeding patience and diligence of research, 
and it was committed, if I remember rightly, to a certain delegation of their 
most learned men to decide. Pasteur completely came up to the mark with his 
experiments, and showed that life was not produced under these circum- 
stances. Those who took the opposite view, I believe I may say, shirked 
the question. I appeal to our chairman whether that was not so. 
The Chairman. — Q uite so. 
Mr. Howard. — Dr. Bastian takes the same line of view as these latter 
* Critiques and Addresses, p. 236. 
