48 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 



the other three with a solution containing four 

 drops of the same to the fluid ounce, the quantity 

 of the iron solution being similar in each set 

 namely, eight drops to the ounce. 



Then, again, Nos. 89, 90, 91, and 101, 102, 103, 

 were likewise heated together in the can, but to 

 a temperature of 135 C. for ten minutes; and 

 every one of these solutions was completely de- 

 composed. There was a copious reddish yellow 

 deposit in each of the tubes, while the fluid above 

 was as clear and colourless as distilled water. 

 These two sets of tubes had been charged with 

 some of the same solutions as those above referred 

 to containing respectively six and four drops of 

 the dilute sodium silicate to the ounce. 



After ten months the deposit in Nos. 80 and 

 101 was examined with the microscope, and it was 

 found to resemble very minute fragments of 

 pounded glass of a reddish yellow colour, among 

 which no organisms of any kind could be discov- 

 ered; though the slight flocculent deposit in Nos. 

 92, 93, 94 contained Torulae and Bacteria in 

 abundance. 



I had, however, previously heated six tubes, 

 Nos. 37, 38, 39, and 43, 44, 45, to 135 C. for five 

 minutes, which were all charged with some of the 



