The Mechanistic Conception of Life

Abstract

THIS book deals for the most part with facts derived from the author's own experimental work. The facts are set forth in a manner easily to be understood, in asseries of essays, most of which have already appeared in print, and the general nature of which can be inferred from their titles, viz., the significance of tropisms for psychology; the comparative physiology of the central nervous system; pattern adaptation of fishes; physiological morphology; the nature of fertilisation; the nature of formative stimulation; the prevention of death by fertilisation; the rô1e of salts in the preservation of life; the influence of environment on animals. That these diverse subjects are closely interwoven and that the facts which are cited point to a definite conclusion regarding the nature of life is demonstrated in the first essay, which gives the title to the work, and it will be best to confine attention mainly to that one, since it would require more space than the Editor could fairly be expected to place at my disposal to deal at any length, and in the manner it deserves, with each individual paper of the series.

The Mechanistic Conception of Life.

Biological Essays by Dr. Jacques Loeb. Pp. vi + 232. (Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press; London: Cambridge University. Press, n.d.) Price, 6s. net.