THOUGHTS ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 21 
stances of which organic nature consists, must have originated 
primitively from inorganic compounds. To deny spontaneous 
generation is to proclaim a miracle.’’ (Verworn). When 
we think of the beginning of organic life we must not think 
primarily of carbonic acid and ammonia; for they are the 
end of life, not the beginning. The beginning lies rather in 
“cyanogen. Hence the problem of the origin of living sub- 
stance culminates in the question:—How does cyanogen 
arise? Here, organic chemistry presents the highly significant 
fact, that cyanogen and its compounds arise only in an incan- 
descent heat, ¢.g., when the necessary nitrogenous compounds 
are brought in contact with burning coal, or when the mass 
is heated to a white heat. Accordingly nothing is clearer 
than the possibility of the formation of cyanogen-compounds 
when the earth was wholly or partially in a fiery or heated 
state. Moreover chemistry shows how the other essential 
constituents of proteid, such as the hydrocarbons, the alcohol 
radicals, etc., can likewise arise synthetically in heat. It is 
seen how strongly and remarkably all facts of chemistry point 
to fire as the force that has produced by synthesis the con- 
stituents of proteid. In other words life is derived from 
fire, and its fundamental conditions were laid down at a time 
when the earth was still an incandescent ball (Pfluger). 
Life, be it said, is an arrangement of suitable materials, 
by material motion, in suitable form, moving within certain 
rates of speed. Too much speed, and death ensues. Too 
little speed also causes death. 
Heat, light, colour, and sound are sensations caused hy 
material motion. Thought is also a sensation, arising from 
the same cause. Increased motion causes the sensation of 
heat ; the motion is conveyed to the brain, giving the sensa- 
*Cyanogen, see Addenda. 
