Historians of biology and medicine have only recently to 2003 rediscovered the existence of an im... more Historians of biology and medicine have only recently to 2003 rediscovered the existence of an immensely powerful doctrine, that of "histological molecules". For over a hundred years, from Needham and Buffon's claim of spontaneous generation in 1748 to Charles Darwin's theory of "pangenesis" in 1868, this theory dramatically influenced thinking about the origin of life, the means by which cells are produced, the origin of diseases from cancer to cholera, and how inheritance works. Robert Brown wrote consciously in this tradition in 1828 when he first described Brownian movement. Rudolph Virchow is largely attacking this doctrine in his famous 1858 book "Cellular Pathology". But he needed to do so because the founders of the cell theory, Schleiden and Schwann, were strong supporters of it. By 1875 the doctrine was considered disproved by most biologists and medical researchers, but the winners so thoroughly wrote the histological molecules theory out of the history of science that it has taken 125 years to rediscover its central importance in theories of cells, disease and generation. This set brings together most of the primary sources, both for and against the histological molecules doctrine. They include Robert Brown's famous 1828 paper announcing the discovery of Brownian movement, Virchow's "Cellular Pathology", Schwann's classic text on which the Cell Theory was based, and a substantial section of Johannes Muller's "Textbook of Physiology". The six volumes also include many papers considered classics in the debates on spontaneous generation and the origin of life by Buffon, Needham, Spallanzani, Joseph Priestley and others, going back to the mid 18th century. The collection provides primary source readings for courses on evolutionary theory, history of biology and history of medicine. It also gives scholars the opportunity to assess the wide-ranging influence of the doctrine of "histological molecules".
Volume 1 [463pp] Series Preface by John M. Lynch [2pp] Introduction by James Strick (c. 12pp) H. ... more Volume 1 [463pp] Series Preface by John M. Lynch [2pp] Introduction by James Strick (c. 12pp) H. C. Bastian, 'Protoplasm', Nature, vol. 1 (24 February 1870), pp. 424-6 [3pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Facts and Reasonings Concerning the Hetrogeneous Evolution of Living Things', Nature, vol. 2 (30 June and 7, 14 July 1870), pp. 170-77, pp. 193-201, pp. 219-28 [27pp] T. H. Huxley, 'Biogenesis and Abiogenesis', Nature, vol. 2 (15 September 1870), pp. 400-406 [7pp] T. H. Huxley, 'On the Relations of Pencillium, Torula and Bacterium', Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, vol. 10 (October or November 1870), pp. 355-62 [8pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Reply to Professor Huxley's Inaugural Address', Nature, vol. 2 (22 and 29 September 1870), pp. 410-13 and pp. 431-4 [8pp] Anon., 'The British Association', Nature, vol. 2 (22 September 1870), pp. 416-17 [2pp] T. H. Huxley, 'Dr. Bastian and Spontaneous Generation', Nature, vol. 2 (13 October 1870), p. 473 H. C. Bastian, 'The Evolution of Life: Professor Huxley's Address', Nature, vol. 2 (20 October 1870), p. 492 Anon., 'Bastian on Lowest Organisms', British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review, vol. 49 (April 1872), pp. 448-51 [4pp] The Modes of Origin of Lowest Organisms (1871) H. C. Bastian xii, 109pp Reviews of The Beginnings of Life [67pp] Alfred Russel Wallace, 'The Beginnings of Life', Nature, vol. 6 (8 and 15 August 1872), pp. 284-7, 299-303 [9pp] Anon., 'The Evolution of Life: Review of Dr. Bastian's Book', Medical Press and Circular (25 September 1872), pp. 264-6 [3pp] Edward Youmans, 'Spontaneous Generation', The Popular Science Monthly, vol. 2 (November 1872), pp. 83-93 [11pp] Anon., review of The Beginnings of Life, The Lancet, vol. 2 (12 October 1872), pp. 528-9 [2pp] Anon., review of The Beginnings of Life, The Lancet, vol. 2 (19 October 1872), p. 563 Anon., 'Bastian on the Beginnings of Life', British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review, vol. 50 (October 1872), pp. 446-9 [4pp] Anon., review of The Beginnings of Life, The Practitioner, vol. 9 (1872), pp. 291-4 [4pp] H. N. Moseley, review of The Beginnings of Life, The Academy, vol. 3 (1 November 1872), pp. 408-12 [5pp] E. Ray Lankester, review of The Beginnings of Life, Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, vol. 13 (January 1873), pp. 59-74 [16pp] J. B. Sanderson, 'Dr. Bastian's Experiments on the Beginning of Life', Nature, vol. 7 (9 January 1873), pp. 180-81 [2pp] E. R. Lankester, 'Dr. Sanderson's Experiments', Nature, vol. 7 (30 January 1873), pp. 242-3 [2pp] William Roberts, 'Dr. Bastian's Experiments on the Beginning of Life', Nature, vol. 7 (20 February 1873), p. 302 J. B. Sanderson, 'Dr. Bastian's Turnip-Cheese Experiments', Nature, vol. 8 (19 June 1873), pp. 141-3 [3pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Dr. Sanderson's Experiments and Archebiosis', Nature, vol. 8 (10 July 1873), pp. 199-200 [2pp] J. B. Sanderson, 'Note on Huizinga's Experiments', Nature, vol. 8 (2 October 1873), pp. 478-9 [2pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Spontaneous Generation', Nature, vol. 9 (23 April 1874), pp. 482-3 [2pp] Evolution and the Origin of Life (1874) H. C. Bastian xv, 186pp Volume 2 [512pp] The Beginnings of Life I (1872) H. C. Bastian xxxvi, 476pp Volume 3 [640pp] The Beginnings of Life II (1872) H. C. Bastian 640pp Volume 4 [345pp] The Beginnings of Life Appendices (1872) clvpp H. C. Bastian, 'Discussion on the Germ Theory of Disease', Transactions of the Pathological Society of London, vol. 26 (1875), pp. 255-345 [91pp] H. C. Bastian, 'On the Conditions Favouring Fermentation and the Appearance of Bacilli, Micrococci, and Torulae in Previously Boiled Fluids', Journal of the Linnean Society of London, vol. 14 (1879), pp. 1-94 [95pp] H. C. Bastian, "The Commission of the French Academy and the Pasteur-Bastian Experiments', Nature, vol. 16 (2 August 1877), pp. 276-79 [4pp] Volume 5 [406pp] The Nature and Origin of Living Matter (1905) H. C. Bastian 342pp + 32 plates (c.64pp) Volume 6 [359pp] The Evolution of Life (1907) H. C. Bastian xvi, 319pp (including 12 illustrations) and 12 plates (24pp)
Looking back at our ever-evolving understanding of what it means to be alive A Brief History of C... more Looking back at our ever-evolving understanding of what it means to be alive A Brief History of Creation, like many popular books about the origin of life, approaches the topic with a broad sweep. But unlike many others, which tend to recycle old versions of Francesco Redi and his experiments on maggots, or Louis Pasteur and his swan-necked flasks, unaware that they are repeating inaccuracies historians have set straight, this book renders new information from the professional history of science literature accessible to a wide audience.
The British Journal for the History of Science, Jun 1, 2019
What are cells? How are they related to each other and to the organism as a whole? These question... more What are cells? How are they related to each other and to the organism as a whole? These questions have exercised biology since Schleiden and Schwann (1838–1839) first proposed cells as the key units of structure and function of all living things. But how do we try to understand them? Through new technologies like the achromatic microscope and the electron microscope. But just as importantly, through the metaphors our culture has made available to biologists in different periods and places. These two new volumes provide interesting history and philosophy of the development of cell biology. Reynolds surveys the field's changing conceptual structure by examining the varied panoply of changing metaphors used to conceptualize and explain cells – from cells as empty boxes, as building blocks, to individual organisms, to chemical factories, and through many succeeding metaphors up to one with great currency today: cells as social creatures in communication with others in their community. There is some of this approach in theVisionsedited collection as well. But this collection also includes rich material on the technologies used to visualize cells and their dialectical relationship with the epistemology of the emerging distinct discipline of cell biology. This volume centres on, but is not limited to, ‘reflections inspired by [E.V.] Cowdry's [1924 volume]General Cytology’; it benefits from a conference on the Cowdry volume as well as a 2011 Marine Biological Lab/Arizona State University workshop on the history of cell biology.
Historians of biology and medicine have only recently to 2003 rediscovered the existence of an im... more Historians of biology and medicine have only recently to 2003 rediscovered the existence of an immensely powerful doctrine, that of "histological molecules". For over a hundred years, from Needham and Buffon's claim of spontaneous generation in 1748 to Charles Darwin's theory of "pangenesis" in 1868, this theory dramatically influenced thinking about the origin of life, the means by which cells are produced, the origin of diseases from cancer to cholera, and how inheritance works. Robert Brown wrote consciously in this tradition in 1828 when he first described Brownian movement. Rudolph Virchow is largely attacking this doctrine in his famous 1858 book "Cellular Pathology". But he needed to do so because the founders of the cell theory, Schleiden and Schwann, were strong supporters of it. By 1875 the doctrine was considered disproved by most biologists and medical researchers, but the winners so thoroughly wrote the histological molecules theory out of the history of science that it has taken 125 years to rediscover its central importance in theories of cells, disease and generation. This set brings together most of the primary sources, both for and against the histological molecules doctrine. They include Robert Brown's famous 1828 paper announcing the discovery of Brownian movement, Virchow's "Cellular Pathology", Schwann's classic text on which the Cell Theory was based, and a substantial section of Johannes Muller's "Textbook of Physiology". The six volumes also include many papers considered classics in the debates on spontaneous generation and the origin of life by Buffon, Needham, Spallanzani, Joseph Priestley and others, going back to the mid 18th century. The collection provides primary source readings for courses on evolutionary theory, history of biology and history of medicine. It also gives scholars the opportunity to assess the wide-ranging influence of the doctrine of "histological molecules".
Volume 1 [463pp] Series Preface by John M. Lynch [2pp] Introduction by James Strick (c. 12pp) H. ... more Volume 1 [463pp] Series Preface by John M. Lynch [2pp] Introduction by James Strick (c. 12pp) H. C. Bastian, 'Protoplasm', Nature, vol. 1 (24 February 1870), pp. 424-6 [3pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Facts and Reasonings Concerning the Hetrogeneous Evolution of Living Things', Nature, vol. 2 (30 June and 7, 14 July 1870), pp. 170-77, pp. 193-201, pp. 219-28 [27pp] T. H. Huxley, 'Biogenesis and Abiogenesis', Nature, vol. 2 (15 September 1870), pp. 400-406 [7pp] T. H. Huxley, 'On the Relations of Pencillium, Torula and Bacterium', Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, vol. 10 (October or November 1870), pp. 355-62 [8pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Reply to Professor Huxley's Inaugural Address', Nature, vol. 2 (22 and 29 September 1870), pp. 410-13 and pp. 431-4 [8pp] Anon., 'The British Association', Nature, vol. 2 (22 September 1870), pp. 416-17 [2pp] T. H. Huxley, 'Dr. Bastian and Spontaneous Generation', Nature, vol. 2 (13 October 1870), p. 473 H. C. Bastian, 'The Evolution of Life: Professor Huxley's Address', Nature, vol. 2 (20 October 1870), p. 492 Anon., 'Bastian on Lowest Organisms', British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review, vol. 49 (April 1872), pp. 448-51 [4pp] The Modes of Origin of Lowest Organisms (1871) H. C. Bastian xii, 109pp Reviews of The Beginnings of Life [67pp] Alfred Russel Wallace, 'The Beginnings of Life', Nature, vol. 6 (8 and 15 August 1872), pp. 284-7, 299-303 [9pp] Anon., 'The Evolution of Life: Review of Dr. Bastian's Book', Medical Press and Circular (25 September 1872), pp. 264-6 [3pp] Edward Youmans, 'Spontaneous Generation', The Popular Science Monthly, vol. 2 (November 1872), pp. 83-93 [11pp] Anon., review of The Beginnings of Life, The Lancet, vol. 2 (12 October 1872), pp. 528-9 [2pp] Anon., review of The Beginnings of Life, The Lancet, vol. 2 (19 October 1872), p. 563 Anon., 'Bastian on the Beginnings of Life', British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review, vol. 50 (October 1872), pp. 446-9 [4pp] Anon., review of The Beginnings of Life, The Practitioner, vol. 9 (1872), pp. 291-4 [4pp] H. N. Moseley, review of The Beginnings of Life, The Academy, vol. 3 (1 November 1872), pp. 408-12 [5pp] E. Ray Lankester, review of The Beginnings of Life, Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, vol. 13 (January 1873), pp. 59-74 [16pp] J. B. Sanderson, 'Dr. Bastian's Experiments on the Beginning of Life', Nature, vol. 7 (9 January 1873), pp. 180-81 [2pp] E. R. Lankester, 'Dr. Sanderson's Experiments', Nature, vol. 7 (30 January 1873), pp. 242-3 [2pp] William Roberts, 'Dr. Bastian's Experiments on the Beginning of Life', Nature, vol. 7 (20 February 1873), p. 302 J. B. Sanderson, 'Dr. Bastian's Turnip-Cheese Experiments', Nature, vol. 8 (19 June 1873), pp. 141-3 [3pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Dr. Sanderson's Experiments and Archebiosis', Nature, vol. 8 (10 July 1873), pp. 199-200 [2pp] J. B. Sanderson, 'Note on Huizinga's Experiments', Nature, vol. 8 (2 October 1873), pp. 478-9 [2pp] H. C. Bastian, 'Spontaneous Generation', Nature, vol. 9 (23 April 1874), pp. 482-3 [2pp] Evolution and the Origin of Life (1874) H. C. Bastian xv, 186pp Volume 2 [512pp] The Beginnings of Life I (1872) H. C. Bastian xxxvi, 476pp Volume 3 [640pp] The Beginnings of Life II (1872) H. C. Bastian 640pp Volume 4 [345pp] The Beginnings of Life Appendices (1872) clvpp H. C. Bastian, 'Discussion on the Germ Theory of Disease', Transactions of the Pathological Society of London, vol. 26 (1875), pp. 255-345 [91pp] H. C. Bastian, 'On the Conditions Favouring Fermentation and the Appearance of Bacilli, Micrococci, and Torulae in Previously Boiled Fluids', Journal of the Linnean Society of London, vol. 14 (1879), pp. 1-94 [95pp] H. C. Bastian, "The Commission of the French Academy and the Pasteur-Bastian Experiments', Nature, vol. 16 (2 August 1877), pp. 276-79 [4pp] Volume 5 [406pp] The Nature and Origin of Living Matter (1905) H. C. Bastian 342pp + 32 plates (c.64pp) Volume 6 [359pp] The Evolution of Life (1907) H. C. Bastian xvi, 319pp (including 12 illustrations) and 12 plates (24pp)
Looking back at our ever-evolving understanding of what it means to be alive A Brief History of C... more Looking back at our ever-evolving understanding of what it means to be alive A Brief History of Creation, like many popular books about the origin of life, approaches the topic with a broad sweep. But unlike many others, which tend to recycle old versions of Francesco Redi and his experiments on maggots, or Louis Pasteur and his swan-necked flasks, unaware that they are repeating inaccuracies historians have set straight, this book renders new information from the professional history of science literature accessible to a wide audience.
The British Journal for the History of Science, Jun 1, 2019
What are cells? How are they related to each other and to the organism as a whole? These question... more What are cells? How are they related to each other and to the organism as a whole? These questions have exercised biology since Schleiden and Schwann (1838–1839) first proposed cells as the key units of structure and function of all living things. But how do we try to understand them? Through new technologies like the achromatic microscope and the electron microscope. But just as importantly, through the metaphors our culture has made available to biologists in different periods and places. These two new volumes provide interesting history and philosophy of the development of cell biology. Reynolds surveys the field's changing conceptual structure by examining the varied panoply of changing metaphors used to conceptualize and explain cells – from cells as empty boxes, as building blocks, to individual organisms, to chemical factories, and through many succeeding metaphors up to one with great currency today: cells as social creatures in communication with others in their community. There is some of this approach in theVisionsedited collection as well. But this collection also includes rich material on the technologies used to visualize cells and their dialectical relationship with the epistemology of the emerging distinct discipline of cell biology. This volume centres on, but is not limited to, ‘reflections inspired by [E.V.] Cowdry's [1924 volume]General Cytology’; it benefits from a conference on the Cowdry volume as well as a 2011 Marine Biological Lab/Arizona State University workshop on the history of cell biology.
My argument here is that pressures to distill complex stories into brief sound-bites are felt by ... more My argument here is that pressures to distill complex stories into brief sound-bites are felt by those who write general biology textbooks, when they are faced with the need to a) present the history of as complex a subject as spontaneous generation controversies, as well as b) carry out their function to inculcate stories of exemplary scientific practice into a young generation of potential future initiates. I will suggest that these pressures were at work in the creation of the " textbook account " of spontaneous generation controversies from about 1870 onward. This especially favored the selection of Louis Pasteur's swan-necked flasks and John Tyndall's dust-free chamber as icons, and the adoption of renderings of each of those experiments as an experimentum crucis.
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Papers by James Strick