THE LIVING CELL

Evening Star, Issue 20049, 14 December 1928, Page 8

THE LIVING CELL

CREATION A POSSIBILITY SCIENTIST’S REMARKABLE ADDRESS. Enormous scientific interest was centred in a lecture delivered in the Royal Technical College at Glasgow by j Professor Frederick George Domnin before tho members of Che British Association of tho mystery of life (says tho ‘Daily Telegraph’). It proved to be the most remarkable address. Professor Donnan succeeded Sir William Ramsay in 3913 as professor of general chemistry at University College,. London, and "Professor A. V. Hill,, whoso name figured so prominently m tho lecture, is engaged in research, tvork in the same college. Professor Donnan spoke modestly of his own work during an interview with a reporter, hut lie has tremendous belief in the ultimate success of Professor Hill’s researches, and ho repeated with emphasis the conviction expressed in his lecture that Hill is on the eve of a discovery of astounding importance, il, indeed, he has not already made it,” in connection with his work of non-inediillatcd nerve cons and on muscle, brief mention of. winch was received in New Zealand in the cable news from London last September. “ The result of all the hue analyses of tlio physiology of the living coll that arc in progress here ana on the Continent must, in my opinion, bo to lead to such an understanding of the organisation of life that there is no reason to see why the creation of a living cell on the, physical plane should not ho effected,” said Pioiessor Donnan. . “ Dods tho phrase the creation or a living cell,” the interviewer asked, “practically mean, in plain, non-tccn-nical language, “ the creation of a living soul?” . The professor answered: Jho tunthat such an evolution os that from infinitely minute cell into a living soul would require is so immense as to be unthinkable. The mind cannot .measure it. There could he no soul in an organism so small beyond comprehension as suck a cell. ~ , T > “The mind of a man, added IroI fessor Donnan, “it must not he forgotten, is a very late stage of human evolution.” When asked his views as to life after dcatl- the professor placed a cigarette in his month, waved Ins hand, and replied with a, quotation from ‘ Lead. Kindly Light ’; One stop enough for me.” ■ In some observations on death liofessor Donnan said: “People have always been puzzled as to the nature or death. One fact that is not generally understood is that if, for instance. 1 were to. fell you fatally with a sledge hammer you would cease to breathe, but for a long time after you bad ceased to breaths tho cells of your body would go on living. The living machine is very. peculiar. Making a rough analogy, if a motor car is deprived of petrol it will stop, but won’t go to pieces. But if you deprive a. human body of its necessary supply of sugar and oxygen it goes to pieces. Probessor Donnau attributes the remarkable success with.which. Prolessor Hill'is. pursuing his investigations to the fact that he has gained distinction not only as a physiologist, but as a physical chemist. He added the interesting information that Professor Hill, immersed as lie is in researches of a stupendous character, does not neglect bis body. On the contrary, he runs five miles every morning before breakfast.