B. T. LOWNE ON SO-CALLED SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. 139 



boiled a vegetable infusion containing a quantity of the bead-like 

 growing mycelium of some fungus, probably a state of Penicillium, 

 and mounted a few portions in a cell for the microscope. I then 

 carefully examined and drew these portions, and watched them 

 from hour to hour, and saw new cells formed and new buds put out. 

 I have done this again and again with the same result. 



I have further found that this process is arrested in sealed tubes 

 after a few hours ; I cannot tell why, but I strongly suspect from 

 the absence of dissolved air in the fluids : Mr. Cooke has suggested 

 it may possibly be from the absence of dissolved nitrogen. I 

 strongly suspect it is from this fact that we are able to preserve 

 meats, &c, in vacuo. 



Of this at least there can be no doubt, both the growing myce- 

 lium and the spores of the common blue mould, Penicillium glaucum, 

 will grow after boiling, and it is nevertheless possible to preserve 

 meat, &c, on a large scale, by enclosing it in vacuo after boiling it. 



I may here remark that Dr. Bastian's eighth experiment,* in 

 which he found that an infusion of turnip decomposed more rapidly 

 when enclosed in vacuo than a similar solution enclosed in a flask 

 containing air, is simply incomprehensible, and is a contradiction 

 to the well-known process of preserving meats, vegetables, fish, &c. 



I think, sir, very few will believe we are justified, without evidence, 

 in believing a temperature somewhat higher will kill these spores if 

 boiling does not. I therefore look upon it that no evidence is 

 afforded by such experiments, — as those I have included under this 

 first division, — in favour of generation de novo, if my observations 

 are confirmed. 



The second series of experiments, which aim at the production of 

 new and unknown organisms, afford a wider field for speculation. I 

 must confess, however, that in every case which I have seen, these 

 so-called new organisms have appeared to me undoubtedly foreign 

 bodies, which have accidentally gained access to the solutions. 



The most recent experiments of this kind were carried out by 

 Dr. Bastian, and their results have been published in " Nature." In 

 these experiments a solution of sodic-phosphate and ammoniac car- 

 bonate was enclosed in vacuo whilst boiling, and certain spiral fibres 

 and portions of a fungus, like Penicillium in fruit, were found after 

 a time in the solutions. 



With a view to discover whether the spore-bearing portions of 

 Penicillium would remain unaltered after boiling, I tried the unripe 



* " Nature." Pt. xxxvi., p. 194. 



