THE NATURE OF LIFE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 8

THE NATURE OF LIFE.

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,—On Saturday you discussed Professor .Schaefer's address on tho Nature of Life, and quoted Mr. M'Dougall's statement that "to accept this conception of physiology is to base tho science on a vast assumption, namely, that all the processes of living organisms avo capablo of being mechanically explained. This is a gratuitous assumption which finds no justification in l'acts, For no sanglo organic function has yet been found explicable in pure mechanical terms: even such relatively simple processes as the seeretiou of a tear ur the exudation of a drop of sweat continue to elude all attempts at complete explanation in terms of physical and chemical science." I do not know when the Header in Menial Philosophy at Oxford wrote this statement, but if it was written recently it ignores striking and wonderful discoveries in physiology to which Professor Schaefer devotes a large portion of his address.

May I point out to your readers, that though you devoted a considerable amount of space to tho presidential address to tho British Association, your report of it is very condensed. A complete report of the address is given for September 5, and there is u good report in the "London Times."

It is stated that tlie Aryans, in their writings, said, a thousand years 8.C., that "true knowledge cannot bo gained by reasoning." In approaching the question of the nature of life, it. is well to rememtor that the history of knowledge during the three thousand years which have elapsed siuco then, lias only one lesson, that Nature's secrets can only bs learnt by tho patient of fact, always assisted by high imaginative and reasoning power. So anyone wishing to form an opinion, on Schaefer's views, must consider all the evidence he marshals.

Mr. M'Dougall states that not a single ! organic function has been found explicI able in pure mechanical (i.e., physico- ! chemical) terms, Now, Professor Schaefer reviews the wonderful part_ played by "hormones" (the term is derived from a Greek word, meaning to stij* up) in setting in action the organs of tho body. A particular case of the part played by hormones will show* that a distinct step has been made by their discovery towards a physico chemical explanation of the action of living organs. I shall quote one given by Professor Schaefer, though there are simpler cases not mentioned by him. , .. "The activities of the cells constituting our bodies are (also) by chemical agents (hormones) circulating in tho blood. Many of these are produced by special glandular organs known as internally secreting The ordinary secreting glands pour their secretions on the exterior of uio body; the internally secreting glands pass the materials winch they produce directly into the blood. In this fluid the hormones arc carried to distant organs. Their influence upon an organ may be essential, to the proper performance of its function®, or may be merely ancillary to it. . . . The association of tho imperfect development or disease of the thyroid with disorders of nutrition and inactivity of tho nervous system is well ascertained. The form ot ldwcy known as cretinism, and the affection termed myoxoedeiua, aro both associated with deficiency of its secretion; somewhat similar conditions to these are produced by tho surgical removal of tho gland. The symptoms are alleviated or cured by the administration of its juice. On the other hand, enlargement of tho thyroid, accompanied by increase of its secretion, produces symptoms of nervous excitation, and similar symptoms are causcd by excessive administration of glandular substance' by the mouth. Vrom these observations it is inferred that the juice contains hormones, which help to rcgulato the nutrition of the body, and serve - to stimulate tho nervous system, for the higher functions of which they appear to be essential." To quote M. Gley:—"The genesis and the action of the highest faculties of man are conditioned by tho purely chemical action of a product of. secretion. May the physiologists meditate on these facts."—l am, ctc.,

TITOS. H.-LABY. "Wellington, October 11, 1012.