350 



every precaution in cleansing the flasks, and using fresh 

 distilled water (p. 220). 



In the four concluding experiments tubes containing one 

 infusion of turnip, the other three saline solutions, were 

 after the exhaustion of the air sealed, and then exposed to a 

 temperature of about 150° C. for four hours. In every case 

 evidence of life was eventually found, the saline solutions as 

 before giving the most conspicuous results. In a solution 

 of ammonium, tartrate, and disodium phosphate, a Peni- 

 cillium appeared, as in Exp. 13, with the same solution, 

 after merely boiling. Spores and sarcina were also found 

 in a solution of ammonium carbonate, and disodium 

 phosphate. 



What interpretation is to be given to these results ? It 

 is evident that one or other of two conclusions must be 

 accepted ; — either the fungi origiated cle novo, or they were 

 ])roduced from germs, which were subjected to a temperature 

 of 150 C. for four hours. It would certainly seem as if 

 these last experiments were absolutely conclusive, especially 

 Avhen, as Dr. Bastian tells us, no fungus spore, or bacterium 

 has been hitherto supposed to be able to withstand mere 

 boiling without disintegration. All that can be said on the 

 other side is that we must keep in mind that fungi, like 

 Penicillium, are only ultimate forms, of which yeast globules 

 are a peculiar condition, Leptortliix, probably a submerged 

 confervoid form, and from which, if we may believe Dr. 

 Polotebnow, even bacteria are derived. Dr. Beale has stated 

 from observations made with his ~, that minute yeast-cells 

 are capable of throAving off" buds or gemmules, much less 

 than the ,7^77^77771^1 of ^11 inch in diameter;' and these he 

 tliinks capable of subdivision practically, ad infimtum. All 

 the organisms found in the solutions might have been ulti- 

 mate stages in the development of such minute atoms of 

 living matter ; and as to the influence of temperature upon 

 these nothing can properly be asserted. Disintegration is 

 the result of heterogeneousness of parts ; but these particles 

 Tinist be much less liable to alteration in that respect than 

 comparatively large structures, such as spores, the formed 

 material of whose envelope would be acted upon diflerently 

 from the living matter within. There seems good evidence to 

 show that bodies allied to germs may survive boiling; 

 and perhaps in proportion to tlieir minuteness. Dr. Heisch 

 has described quite lately to the Chemical Society spherical 

 cells found in water contaminated with sewage. They were 

 too minute to be removed by filtration through the finest 

 • ' Disease Germs,' p. 20. 



