Chance or Vitalism?

OcTOBER NATURE 6, r 898] If for x in the given series we substitute ,. <>mitting the factor 2, - y = sin • + sin 2 e + ! sin 3• +• we have, + + 1t_: sin 1tf + . . . This series increases with n until m = .... Suppose, therefore, where k is a small fraction. The series will now be n nearly equal to tlE = k ... , a finite quantity even if n = oo. Hence the value of y in the immediate vicinity of x = .,.. is not an isolated pointy = o, but a straight line y = nx. The same result is obtained by differentiation, which gives = k 545 Another reason for either a right· or left-handed structure in living organisms on the earth, and one which diminishes the force of the foregoing argument for a small number of origins, is that it probably started either in the northern or in the southern hemisphere, and in either case the rotation of the sun in the heavens may be a sufficient cause for a right- or left-handed structure in an organism growing under its influence. GEO. FRAS. FITZGERALD. Trinity College, Dublin, September 27. IN his presidential address to Section B of the British As· sociation, Prof. J app argues the necessity of supposing a "directive force," or intelligence, to have guided the formation of the first asymmetric substance. "Vitalism," which at one putting x = .,.. + • this becomes time was supposed to regulate the physiology and even the mechanics of organised beings, has passed more and more from - dx '!2'. = COS < + COS 2E + COS 3< + . • , + COS 1ZE + the foreground, till, in the vision of some it remains only as a point in the vast distance of time at the origin of life. Is it to which is nearly equal to n for values of tte less than k1r. disappear altogether? It is difficult to see the meaning of the tangent if y were an A sensible quantity of a mixture of enantiomorphs contains isolated point. ALBERT A. MICHELSON. an enormous number of molecules. Chance determines the The University of Chicago Ryerson Physical Laboratory, relative proportion present of right- and left-handed form<. September 6. Each molecule, having resulted from the action of symmetric forces, has an even chance of being of one or the other. Hence, the improbability of there being present a great preponderance Helium in the Atmosphere. of one form over the other is so great, that it is inconceivable C. FRIEDLANDER and H. Kayser have independently claimed thllt an optically active solution could result. To the above to have found helium in the atmosphere. On examination of contention of Prof. Japp, the reply is made by Prof. Karl some photographs of the spectrum of neon I have identified six Pearson, in NATURE of September 22, that a chance result, of the principal lines of helium, which thus establishes beyond however improbable, will occur, if sufficient opportunity be <JUestion the presence of this gas in the air. The amount allowed. He postulates the vast ages of the earth's history. present in the neon it is, of course, impossible to estimate, but May we not, however, invoke chance to deal with masses inthe green line (wave-length 5016) is the brightest, as would be stead of molecules, and thus perhaps substitute weeks for ages? Let us consider a solution, in which the numbers of right- and expected from the low pressure of the helium in the neon. left-handed molecules are very approximately equal, and which E. C. C. BALY. is consequently optically inactive. In the s!ow evapora.tion of University College, London, Gower Street, W.C., the solvent, the nght- and left-handed nuclei, about wh1ch ·the September 28. substance crystallises, will most probably be evenly distributed. Their number will be extremely small in comparison with that as chance determines their distribution, THE discovery of helium lines in the spectrum of neon, by of the molecules, and, it is not so highly improbable-it is at least conceivable-that Mr. E. C. C. Baly, will necessitate a modification of the views the crJ stals will be unevenly grouped. Suppose such to take we have expressed in our communication to the British place and a partial re-solution, roughly in the lines of the disAssociation at Bristol. We there estimated the density of tribution of the two varieties of crystals-a not very improbable neon at 9 ·6, allowing for the presence of a certain proportion event-and we have an optically active solution. Chance has of argon unavoidably left in the neon. As it contains helium, here acted the part played by organised· matter in the person however, this is probably an under-estimate. It is unfor- of M. Pasteur, by selecting and rejecting the oppositely formed <tunately not possible to form any estimate of the amount of helium mixed with the neon from the relative intensity of crystals. Is it yet possible to deny that the first ancestor of lrevospectrum lines, as has been · already shown by Dr. Collie and rotatory protein could have been built up from an asymmetric -one of us ; we do not despair, however, of removing a large substance, separated in some such way as the above, by the part, if not all of this helium, by taking advantage of the greater play of chance upon the natural working of symmetric forces? solubility of neon than helium in liquid oxygen. CLEMENT 0. BARTRUM. The presence of helium, however, in no way alters our view 17 Denning Road, Hampstead, N.W., September 24 . .as to the position of neon in the periodic table. The number 9'6 implies an atomic weight of 19'2; and a somewhat higher atomic weight would even better suit a position between fluorine, The Moon's Course. -19, and sodium, 23. WILLIAM RAMSAY. University College, London, MoRRIS W. TRAVERS. MAY I refer Sir S. Wilks to the simple and beautifully Gower-street, W.C., September 28. written autobiography of JameS Ferguson, F.R.S., self-taught mechanician and astronomer ? I will quote a passage. "Soon afterwards" (the previous date 1 743) "it appeared Chance or .Vitalism? to me, that although the moon goes round the earth, and that I AM glad to see that Prof. Karl Pearson has called attention the sun is far on the outside of the moon's orbit-yet the moon's to Prof. Japp's address at Bristol. Only that one does not like motion must be in a line-that is, always concave toward the to criticise adversely a presidential address, I would at the time sun : and upon making a delineation representing her absolute have pointed out the weakness in the argument that Prof. path in the heavens- I found it to be really so. I then made a Pearson criticises. He does not go nearly so far in this criticism simple machine for delineating both her path, and the earth's, on .as the circumstances warrant. It is conceded that right- and a long paper laid on the floor. I carried the machine and the left-handed crystals of quite sensible size are produced sufficiently delineation to the late Martin Folkes, Esquire, President of the ·separated to be seen and handled as separate crystals. Now Royal Society, on a Thursday afternoon. He expressed grea (...truncated)