publication of Darwin’s _Origin of Species_ in 1859, and its translation into French in 1862. These dates coincide with the rise of the _Société d’Anthropologie_ de Paris, founded by Broca in the same year that Darwin’s book appeared. Another translation from Darwin’s work followed in 1872, _Descendance de l’Homme_, which aroused further interest in the evolutionary theory. At the same time the work of men such as Pasteur, Bertrand, Berthelot and Bernard gave an impetus and a power to science. Poincare belongs rather to the twentieth century. Pasteur (1822-1895) showed mankind how science could cure its ills by patient labour and careful investigation, and earned the world’s gratitude for his noble work. His various _Discours_ and his volume, _Le Budget de la Science_ (1868), show his faith in this progressive power of science. In Bertrand (1822-1900), his contemporary who held the position of Professor of Mathematics at the College de France, a similar attitude appears. [7] Lavoisier perished at the guillotine in 1794, and his death was a tragic loss to science. [8] Cuvier’s _Anatomie comparée_ appeared in the years 1800-1805, following his _Histoire naturelle_ (1798-1799). Later came his _Rapport sur les Sciences naturelles_ (1810) and his work _Le Regne animal_ (1816).He died in 1832. We may note that Cuvier opposed the speculative evolutionary doctrines of Lamarck, with whom he indulged in controversy. [9] In his work, _Philosophie zoologique, ou Exposition des Considérations relatives a l’Histoire naturelle des Animaux_, 2 vols Paris, Dentu, 1809. [10] His _Social Statics_ was published in 1850, and his _Psychology_ five years later. His life work, _The Synthetic Philosophy_, extends over the period 1860-1896. One of the foremost scientific minds, however, was Claude Bernard (1813-1878), a friend of Renan, who held the Chair of Medicine at the College de France, and was, in addition, the Professor of Physiology at the Faculté des Sciences at the Sorbonne. Science, Bernard maintained, concerns itself only with phenomena and their laws. He endeavoured in his celebrated _Introduction à l’Etude de la Médécine expérimentale_, published in 1865, to establish the science of physiology upon a sound basis, having respect only to fact, not owning homage to theories of a metaphysical character or to the authority of persons or creeds. He desired to obtain by such a rigorous and precise method, objectivity. “The experimental method is,” he insists, “the really scientific method, which proclaims the freedom of the human spirit and its intelligence. It not only shakes off the yoke of metaphysics and of theology, in addition it refuses to admit personal considerations and subjective standpoints.”[11] [11] _Introduction à l’Etude de la Médécine expérimentale_, chap. ii, sect. 4.