76 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 



arrived at on this point. I have on several occa- 

 sions, however, been much struck by the existence 

 of marked differences in the number and even in 

 the kind of organisms found in tubes containing 

 portions of the same solution, similarly heated and 

 similarly exposed. This was the case with tubes 

 Nos. 162 and 163. In the former Torulse and a 

 few Bacteria were found; while in the latter, mixed 

 with a few ordinary Torute, a number of Fungus- 

 germs altogether different were found, such as had 

 never previously been met with in colourless solu- 

 tions. When some of them were first seen, I 

 thought they must be dead, and due to some 

 strange accidental contamination. To settle this 

 point, the specimen under examination was at once 

 carefully ringed with paraffin and put away in a 

 drawer. When examined again on the third and 

 fourth days, all doubts were at once removed, as 

 many of the germs had undergone multiplication 

 (Fig. 54) ; while many others were developing 

 mycelia, a portion of one of which is shown in 

 Fig. 55. It is certain, therefore, that these pale 

 and brown Fungus-germs must, like the Torulae, 

 have been born in this tube, which had been ex- 

 posed to the great initial heat of 145 C. for five 

 minutes. 



