284 AKNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



But the small quantify of air enclosed in the egg' was not con- 

 sidered .suflioic'iit to di'termine the phcnoincua, and the experi- 

 ments were tried again with certain niotlilicati(jns. The eggs 

 were carefully washed, well dried, and then enclosed in a thick 

 coating of cotton wool, taken out of a stove at 1.00° C. A fine 

 sharp rod, previously heated to redness, was then inserted ob- 

 liquely tln-ougii the cotton, and the tip of the egg was pierced 

 with a hole. The cgg:^ were tiien put in a safe place, and covered 

 ■\vitii a l)i'll-gla.ss. In a few weeks' time the surface of tiie eon- 

 tents of the cgii; was covered with velvety-looking mould, white, 

 gray, yellow, or green. Under the microscope, this was seen to 

 consist of organized filaments and beautiful globules of dilFerent 

 sizes. Then- was, however, no trace of living animalcules. Sup- 

 posing that the j)resi'nce of water was neede<l, as the viscosity of 

 the contents of tiie egg might hinder their development, a little 

 boiling water was put into the egg, covered with cotton. In two 

 davs, the sul)stance was swarming with vibrios. The same experi- 

 ments were then tried with hartl-boiled eggs. The result, there- 

 fore, appears to be, tliat we can produce at will vegetable or ani- 

 mal beings hi pure organic matter, without the intervention of 

 germs from without. AVater is necessary to the develojiment of 

 infusoria ; and air is indispensable to the development of living 

 beings of either kingdom. 



During the year 18GG, arguments, more or less convincing, 

 have been accumulated on both sides of this question, so that it is 

 impossible, at present, to decide in favor of or against the theory 

 of spontaneous generation. 



NATDEE OF MUSCULAR IKRITABILITY, BY RICHARD MORRIS, M.D. 



The subject was discussed before the British Association in 

 1866, under the following propositions: 1. That the property 

 of irritiibility in muscle is capable of a high degree of exaltation 

 above the normal standard, and that the highest degree of sus- 

 ceptibility is attained in cold bloods, long after death, or under 

 conditions tantamount to death. 2. That the forces of the nerve 

 and muscle, the neurility of the former, and the irritability of 

 the latter, are not only independent of each other for their exist- 

 ence and maintenance, but actually possess an antagonistic rela- 

 tion, — that is to say, nerve tissue, instead of producing, is, when 

 in action, constant!}* concerned in maintaining a condition of 

 things which diminishes muscular irrital)ility, and that not simply 

 when it is engaged in the production of motion. 3. Convei'sely, 

 that muscular tissue, relieved from the operation or influence of 

 nerve tissue, gradually acquires exalted contractile powers either 

 in the presence or absence of the blood. 4. That the blood, or 

 the nutritional plasma derived therefrom, not only furnishes the 

 materials by wliich muscular irritability is maintained, but is like- 

 wise the determining cause of that polar arrangement of the 

 muscular molecules, wiiich maintains or restores the elongated or 

 relaxed state. These proijositions were sustained by constant 

 reference to experiment, much consideration being devoted to the 



