[December 1,
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
254
1870.
organization of one : the many springing into life type) on the dissolution of the one (a higher type.) This doctrine is to be distinguished from the fact on which Dr. Beale ha3 recently laid considerable stress, namely, that the germs of lower life?forms are universally interspersed in the tissues of the higher organism. The doctrine of Buffon contemplated the germs as part and parcel of the tissue of the higher form. Spallazani now showed that more complete closing and thorough boiling prevented the development of animalcules in infusions. But, objected the chemists?at this period full of the dependance forms in the
CJjc Jfttirian iUlcJJtcal ?rtjcttc. DECEMBER 1, 1870.
"You have chosen the path, not of politics, but of science. Among those who have preceded you in it, and in our own particular department, we find some of the brightest ornaments of British history; and I will not
do you the injustice of supposing that there is any one among you who would not prefer the reputation of Harvey or the Hunters to that of nineteen-twentieths of the courtiers and politicians of the periods in which
they lived."-SIR BENJAMIN B ROD IE.
the origin of life.
place at Liverpool, has once again brought to the great central subject of Biological science. All that
took
surface the a
masterly historical
summary, a statement of the arguments
pro and con, a resume of the most
experiments
and
discussion
by
recent
investigations
and
those most interested in the
matter, could accomplish in the way of solving the problem has been done ; and now that the agitation is past, and the subject
relegated to the thought and labor of experimental physiologists, we shall endeavour to place our readers in possession of the state of the case in as far as the reports of the various papers read, and the discussions which took place upon them, have enabled us to apprehend it. Professor Huxley has done good service in defining more accurately the words which represent the various theories, which would account for the origin of living matter. The two main theories are represented by the terms biogenesis or the derivation of living matter from living matter, and abiogencsis or the origin of living matter from not living or inorganic matter. These two terms connote the opposing doctrines of the continuity of life or living matter, and spontaneous generation. The first theory is sub-divided into biogenesis proper or homogenesis?the derivation of like living matter from like?and xenogcncsis or the derivation of unlike from unlike. This latter may again be sub-divided according as the living matter, after one or more cycles of unlikeness, returns to the form and attributes of its parent?alternate generation?or remains to the end of its lifehistory, altogether and permanently unlike?heterogenesis. So much for names. Huxley's historical skctch, in which the name of a pioneer in this path of experimental inquiry?Francesco Redi?is justly held up for honor and remembrance, establishes one point as clearly and indisputably as a physiological question can be established?namely, that the more accurately microscopical observation has been made, and experimental inquiry conducted, the greater grasp of phenomena and facts, has the theory fine gauze of Redi in of biogenesis proper acquired. The has been
"
"
16C8 sufficed to exclude the germ3 of blow flies from meat and
prevent
microscope unseen.
came
the
development
and revealed
a
of visible
earlier observers beheld with admiration of
provision
for the
putrefying
The universe of minute life hitherto
At first its revelations assisted
of
maggots.
orthodoxy, "
such
a
and
tho
prodigality
organized forms" ; but the maggots of putrid meat were now supplanted in the eye of speculation by the animalcules of infusions; and Buffon and Needham found that boiling and cooking did not hinder their appearance. They compromised with the dominant doctrine and invented a theory, which, to follow the fashion, wc may denominate poli/genesis, or tho existence of many germs of living multiplication
a
lower
of animal life
Profess cm Huxley's inaugural address at the meeting of the British Association for the advancement of science, which
recently
(of
on
oxygen?you exclude this element so necessary
development of life. Accordingly Sehulze and Schwann, in place of the fine gauze of Redi, passed the air supplied to infusions through red hot tubes and strong sulphuric acid?and no living form3 appeared. The discovery of the minute organisms composing yeast wa3 at this time made by Cagniard de la Tour, and fermentation was asserted to consist of the development of these organisms. This was beautifully proved by Helmholtz, who, by interposing a membrane between a ferment and fermentible liquid, prevented the fermentation of the la.tter, and showed the same result with regard to a putrefying and putrescible substance. Next Schroeder and Dusch in 1854, in place of the fine gauze, &c., used as a filter cotton wool, which Professor Tyndall has recently shown to render air optically pure, and found that the development of minute organisms in fermentible and putrescible liquids was thus hindered. The final link of the chain of argument in support of biogenesis was supplied by Pasteur, who showed that the things excluded by the isolating air filters were germs capable of giving rise to living forms." Pasteur's conclusions are by no means so implicitly assented to as Huxley's address would represent. Pouchet has repeated his experiments, but not confirmed his conclusions ; and now Drs. Child and Bastian find that in hermetically sealed tubes exposed to very high temperatures (300? to 400? F.), minute organisms appear. Against this result Professor Huxley places the large experiments furnished by hermetically sealed provisions. But, affirms Dr. Bastian, (Nature, No. 47) organisms do appear in the best tins of hermetically sealed provisions, and thus the matter now stands. In short, the whole series of observations and experiments, affirmations and denials, puts us in mind of to the
"
the contest between the power of missiles and the power of
protective ness
armory which has rendered the name of ShoeburyHero it is a contest between the power of living forms and tlio power of destroying germs and
famous.
detecting isolating cultivating as
But all are not yet
mixtures.
quite settled
to what constitutes a germ, and what conditions abolish its
germinating. Dr. Beale would have us to consider a larger than the 100,000th of an inch, a germ,, and if its capsule protects it from the action of high temperatures, it may at first resist the ordeal of heat, and when in time power of
bud of bioplasm not
moisture and the stimulus of acts upon
a
fermentible
or
putrescible fluid
project through tiny orifices, tho delicate processes or budlets which ho has figured in his recent work. On the whole, while doubts remain in tho very lowest reaches of it may
it,
biology, there and more
can
bo
no
rational doubt
as
to tho doctrine of
continuity of life or living matter in the highest palpable fields, and successive inquiries have gradually
biogenesis
or
tho
extended tho doctrino from tho known and undisputed to tho and disputed. Huxley did not in his address allude to tho theories of tho molecular abiogenists, whoso most
minute, doubtful
M. LEON COLIN ON TYPHOID FEVER.
December 1, 1870.]
of Edin-
distinguished representative is Professor J. H. Bennett of life an origin burgh, and who would argue for the lower forms of molecules. coalescence or from a mechanical agglomeration now demonstrating that are Higher powers of the microscope
it appears unphilosophical to germs, and we are comparatively demand, for vital processes of whose nature where our informobtain which those ignorant, different laws from
these molecules
are
But the crowning arguclear, exact and exhaustive. ment against the abiogenists or spontaneous generation partizans, matter ever yet been is, that by no chemical process has living
ation is
contact or comshown to arise from any designed or fortuitous and moreover, bination of not living elements or compounds ; of scale living foims, as it is no progressive development in the lower vitalieven among presented to our view, has been proved ties. the life history of Much remains to be done in clearing up done both here and elseis being much these lower forms, and forward a singular docwhere ; but it were wise before putting
observations, to know resting on imperfectly understood We should incline then to is. accurately what that life history until much stronger grounds advise implicit belief in biogenesis forward have been for the contrary than have as yet been put on this dawned first life globe, furnished. What happened when trine
and to that transcendental may safely leave to speculation which Professor Tyndall "scientific" use of the imagination an imasame meeting the advocated in a paper read before waves of smaller and light which saw the we
larger (germs ? ) susagainst the minute particles the small blue contemplated and in our pended atmosphere, and reflected bock on waves failing to overcome the obstacle be noted
gination
breaking
our
over
and
organs of vision.
It must, however, are
only
that the
at issue now
as
abiogenesis partisans of biogenesis the very first and earliest regards the very lowest forms of life, latter strive to demonthe that formation of organic matter, and scientific imagination strate that, that takes place now, which " abyss of geologically views as having taken place beyond the and
series of recorded time"?when reasoning from the progressive life forms presented in the succession of geological records, the matter may have evolution of living protoplasm from not living
occurred
by
some
unexplained
and
combination of chemical elements pounds.
Enough
for
biogenists
or
certainly undemonstrated contact of chemical
com-
to assert that whatever hapof living forms has not been
pened then, the spontaneous origin will the fact that organic as yet proved to tako place now. Nor tissue is now elaborated from inorganic elements, assist in the that such elaboration is been
demonstration
until it has
proved
the living tissue. possible out of contact and continuity with We have not yet exhausted the field traveised by Professor the origin of Huxley, and reserve another litnb of his theme
disease?for a
future number.
One of Dr. Bird's tables in his Physiological essays tends to is than that specific gravity of Europeans greater The higher degree 1001. to is Bengal, as 1-018 of heat in tho in the native, as is 98 G8 to 97 25 prove that the of Natives of
European
indicated by the thermometer in tho month. His analysis of the. blood of the two the Bengali has more races goes to show that albumen and fewer red the European : on this than corpuscules latter subject we do uot think accurate experiments exist. very
255
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
254
1870.
organization of one : the many springing into life type) on the dissolution of the one (a higher type.) This doctrine is to be distinguished from the fact on which Dr. Beale ha3 recently laid considerable stress, namely, that the germs of lower life?forms are universally interspersed in the tissues of the higher organism. The doctrine of Buffon contemplated the germs as part and parcel of the tissue of the higher form. Spallazani now showed that more complete closing and thorough boiling prevented the development of animalcules in infusions. But, objected the chemists?at this period full of the dependance forms in the
CJjc Jfttirian iUlcJJtcal ?rtjcttc. DECEMBER 1, 1870.
"You have chosen the path, not of politics, but of science. Among those who have preceded you in it, and in our own particular department, we find some of the brightest ornaments of British history; and I will not
do you the injustice of supposing that there is any one among you who would not prefer the reputation of Harvey or the Hunters to that of nineteen-twentieths of the courtiers and politicians of the periods in which
they lived."-SIR BENJAMIN B ROD IE.
the origin of life.
place at Liverpool, has once again brought to the great central subject of Biological science. All that
took
surface the a
masterly historical
summary, a statement of the arguments
pro and con, a resume of the most
experiments
and
discussion
by
recent
investigations
and
those most interested in the
matter, could accomplish in the way of solving the problem has been done ; and now that the agitation is past, and the subject
relegated to the thought and labor of experimental physiologists, we shall endeavour to place our readers in possession of the state of the case in as far as the reports of the various papers read, and the discussions which took place upon them, have enabled us to apprehend it. Professor Huxley has done good service in defining more accurately the words which represent the various theories, which would account for the origin of living matter. The two main theories are represented by the terms biogenesis or the derivation of living matter from living matter, and abiogencsis or the origin of living matter from not living or inorganic matter. These two terms connote the opposing doctrines of the continuity of life or living matter, and spontaneous generation. The first theory is sub-divided into biogenesis proper or homogenesis?the derivation of like living matter from like?and xenogcncsis or the derivation of unlike from unlike. This latter may again be sub-divided according as the living matter, after one or more cycles of unlikeness, returns to the form and attributes of its parent?alternate generation?or remains to the end of its lifehistory, altogether and permanently unlike?heterogenesis. So much for names. Huxley's historical skctch, in which the name of a pioneer in this path of experimental inquiry?Francesco Redi?is justly held up for honor and remembrance, establishes one point as clearly and indisputably as a physiological question can be established?namely, that the more accurately microscopical observation has been made, and experimental inquiry conducted, the greater grasp of phenomena and facts, has the theory fine gauze of Redi in of biogenesis proper acquired. The has been
"
"
16C8 sufficed to exclude the germ3 of blow flies from meat and
prevent
microscope unseen.
came
the
development
and revealed
a
of visible
earlier observers beheld with admiration of
provision
for the
putrefying
The universe of minute life hitherto
At first its revelations assisted
of
maggots.
orthodoxy, "
such
a
and
tho
prodigality
organized forms" ; but the maggots of putrid meat were now supplanted in the eye of speculation by the animalcules of infusions; and Buffon and Needham found that boiling and cooking did not hinder their appearance. They compromised with the dominant doctrine and invented a theory, which, to follow the fashion, wc may denominate poli/genesis, or tho existence of many germs of living multiplication
a
lower
of animal life
Profess cm Huxley's inaugural address at the meeting of the British Association for the advancement of science, which
recently
(of
on
oxygen?you exclude this element so necessary
development of life. Accordingly Sehulze and Schwann, in place of the fine gauze of Redi, passed the air supplied to infusions through red hot tubes and strong sulphuric acid?and no living form3 appeared. The discovery of the minute organisms composing yeast wa3 at this time made by Cagniard de la Tour, and fermentation was asserted to consist of the development of these organisms. This was beautifully proved by Helmholtz, who, by interposing a membrane between a ferment and fermentible liquid, prevented the fermentation of the la.tter, and showed the same result with regard to a putrefying and putrescible substance. Next Schroeder and Dusch in 1854, in place of the fine gauze, &c., used as a filter cotton wool, which Professor Tyndall has recently shown to render air optically pure, and found that the development of minute organisms in fermentible and putrescible liquids was thus hindered. The final link of the chain of argument in support of biogenesis was supplied by Pasteur, who showed that the things excluded by the isolating air filters were germs capable of giving rise to living forms." Pasteur's conclusions are by no means so implicitly assented to as Huxley's address would represent. Pouchet has repeated his experiments, but not confirmed his conclusions ; and now Drs. Child and Bastian find that in hermetically sealed tubes exposed to very high temperatures (300? to 400? F.), minute organisms appear. Against this result Professor Huxley places the large experiments furnished by hermetically sealed provisions. But, affirms Dr. Bastian, (Nature, No. 47) organisms do appear in the best tins of hermetically sealed provisions, and thus the matter now stands. In short, the whole series of observations and experiments, affirmations and denials, puts us in mind of to the
"
the contest between the power of missiles and the power of
protective ness
armory which has rendered the name of ShoeburyHero it is a contest between the power of living forms and tlio power of destroying germs and
famous.
detecting isolating cultivating as
But all are not yet
mixtures.
quite settled
to what constitutes a germ, and what conditions abolish its
germinating. Dr. Beale would have us to consider a larger than the 100,000th of an inch, a germ,, and if its capsule protects it from the action of high temperatures, it may at first resist the ordeal of heat, and when in time power of
bud of bioplasm not
moisture and the stimulus of acts upon
a
fermentible
or
putrescible fluid
project through tiny orifices, tho delicate processes or budlets which ho has figured in his recent work. On the whole, while doubts remain in tho very lowest reaches of it may
it,
biology, there and more
can
bo
no
rational doubt
as
to tho doctrine of
continuity of life or living matter in the highest palpable fields, and successive inquiries have gradually
biogenesis
or
tho
extended tho doctrino from tho known and undisputed to tho and disputed. Huxley did not in his address allude to tho theories of tho molecular abiogenists, whoso most
minute, doubtful
M. LEON COLIN ON TYPHOID FEVER.
December 1, 1870.]
of Edin-
distinguished representative is Professor J. H. Bennett of life an origin burgh, and who would argue for the lower forms of molecules. coalescence or from a mechanical agglomeration now demonstrating that are Higher powers of the microscope
it appears unphilosophical to germs, and we are comparatively demand, for vital processes of whose nature where our informobtain which those ignorant, different laws from
these molecules
are
But the crowning arguclear, exact and exhaustive. ment against the abiogenists or spontaneous generation partizans, matter ever yet been is, that by no chemical process has living
ation is
contact or comshown to arise from any designed or fortuitous and moreover, bination of not living elements or compounds ; of scale living foims, as it is no progressive development in the lower vitalieven among presented to our view, has been proved ties. the life history of Much remains to be done in clearing up done both here and elseis being much these lower forms, and forward a singular docwhere ; but it were wise before putting
observations, to know resting on imperfectly understood We should incline then to is. accurately what that life history until much stronger grounds advise implicit belief in biogenesis forward have been for the contrary than have as yet been put on this dawned first life globe, furnished. What happened when trine
and to that transcendental may safely leave to speculation which Professor Tyndall "scientific" use of the imagination an imasame meeting the advocated in a paper read before waves of smaller and light which saw the we
larger (germs ? ) susagainst the minute particles the small blue contemplated and in our pended atmosphere, and reflected bock on waves failing to overcome the obstacle be noted
gination
breaking
our
over
and
organs of vision.
It must, however, are
only
that the
at issue now
as
abiogenesis partisans of biogenesis the very first and earliest regards the very lowest forms of life, latter strive to demonthe that formation of organic matter, and scientific imagination strate that, that takes place now, which " abyss of geologically views as having taken place beyond the and
series of recorded time"?when reasoning from the progressive life forms presented in the succession of geological records, the matter may have evolution of living protoplasm from not living
occurred
by
some
unexplained
and
combination of chemical elements pounds.
Enough
for
biogenists
or
certainly undemonstrated contact of chemical
com-
to assert that whatever hapof living forms has not been
pened then, the spontaneous origin will the fact that organic as yet proved to tako place now. Nor tissue is now elaborated from inorganic elements, assist in the that such elaboration is been
demonstration
until it has
proved
the living tissue. possible out of contact and continuity with We have not yet exhausted the field traveised by Professor the origin of Huxley, and reserve another litnb of his theme
disease?for a
future number.
One of Dr. Bird's tables in his Physiological essays tends to is than that specific gravity of Europeans greater The higher degree 1001. to is Bengal, as 1-018 of heat in tho in the native, as is 98 G8 to 97 25 prove that the of Natives of
European
indicated by the thermometer in tho month. His analysis of the. blood of the two the Bengali has more races goes to show that albumen and fewer red the European : on this than corpuscules latter subject we do uot think accurate experiments exist. very
255
