178 
The Newly-Discovered Force. [April, 
forms. ^ But if we suppose that animals in the course of 
generations adapt themselves by degrees, alike in habits and 
structure, to varying conditions, these difficulties disappear. 
It is very conceivable that animal forms which at one time 
preyed upon living beings, or upon growing vegetables, may 
have gradually begun to subsist upon the dead remains of 
either (as we see some of the most decidedly carnivorous 
species do to some extent), and may thus have become 
refuse-eaters in the fullest sense of the word. 
III. THE NEWLY-DISCOVERED FORCE.f 
By George M. Beard, A.M., M.D., New York. 
f OME of the more important fadts in regard to the 
newly-discovered force I have already several times 
briefly presented in the “ New York Tribune,” and 
other journals. In this paper I shall endeavour to system- 
atise our present knowledge of this force, and with as much 
clearness as the nature of the subject will admit. It is all 
the more necessary to make this attempt, from the fadt that 
in the letters to the papers, and in the reports of the ledture 
I gave on the subjedt, there were certain omissions and 
errors that were almost inevitable in the presentation of a 
new and difficult theme, and, furthermore, some of the more 
recent and important experiments have not yet been made 
public. I began to experiment with the new force as soon 
as the announcement of its discovery was made, and since 
that time have devoted to it many nights, and certain por- 
tions of my leisure hours by day. It is proper to state that 
I have studied the subjedt independently, suggesting and 
carrying out my own experiments, especially those of a 
physiological charadter, and have repeated the majority of 
those made by Mr. Edison. It is proper also to state that 
from the outset Mr. Edison and his assistant, Mr. Bachelor, 
have in every possible way, and with great enthusiasm and 
kindness, co-operated with me, freely contributing their 
apparatus, their time, and their labour. I am under obli- 
gations also to Prof. J. E. Smith, for kindly co-operating in 
some of the earlier experiments made at the establishment 
of Mr. Chester. 
* The same consideration applies with equal force to' the Entozoa and to 
external parasites. 
t Communicated by the author. 
