APPENDIX B. xix 



fungus-filaments; 5. And lastly, certain fungus-spores in 

 almost all respects similar to those which have been met with 

 in several of the saline experimental fluids. Although four or 

 five of these were frequently interspersed amongst the con- 

 fervoid-looking filaments, they did not seem to be in organic 

 connection with them. 



Repeated examination of crystals during their solution 

 convinced me that such organic bodies invariably came from 

 the interior of the crystal, often from its very centre, and 

 that they were not to be met with on its surface. Seeing, 

 however, that minute shreds of cotton or paper fibre also 

 came as frequently from the interior of the crystal^, it was 

 obviously possible that the organisms met with might have 

 been engaged mechanically during the process of crystalliza- 

 tion, just as it must have happened with the shreds above 

 mentioned. From what has previously been stated concern- 

 ing the mode of preparation of the neutral tartrate of am- 

 monia and the origin of its constituents, it may be considered 

 almost certain that these organisms could not have pre-ex- 

 isted in the strong liquor ammonice, and that all living organ- 

 isms which might by chance have been associated with the 

 potassic bitartrate must have been hopelessly destroyed by 

 the boiling with sulphuric acid, which occurred at one stage 

 in the process employed for the separation of the tartaric 

 acid from its base. 



It is, of course, possible that certain spores existing in the 

 adjacent atmosphere might have dropped into the fluid 

 during the subsequent process of crystallization of the tartaric 

 acid from its mother-liquor, and that these spores might after- 



* I had often been surprised at finding such shreds when I submitted 

 some of my experimental fluids to microscopical examination, knowing 

 that I had frequently used freshly prepared distilled water, and had 

 taken eveiy precaution thoroughly to cleanse the flasks which were 

 employed. 



hi 



