118 



TRANSLATIONS. 



New Experiments relating to what is termed Spontaneous 

 Generation. By M. L. Pasteur. 



('Comptes reudus,' Sept. 3, 1860, p. 313.) 



Since the avithor^s last communication to the Academy 

 on the subject of the origin of " ferments/^ and on what is 

 termed " spontaneous generation/^ his attention has been 

 directed to several points of particular interest in the question^ 

 and which are still attended Avith great difficulties, although 

 their explanation is comprised in his pre"\dous labours. 



INIoreover, so long as the doctrine of spontaneous genera- 

 tion can present a single serious objection to the opposite 

 doctrine, Ave may expect to find it constantly reappearing; 

 for it maintains its hold over our minds, unknown to our- 

 selves, from its relation with tlie impenetrable mystery of 

 the origin of life on the surface of the glo])e. It is one of 

 those questions Avhich may be compared to the fabled monster 

 whose many heads were unceasingly renewed. They must all 

 be destroyed. 



An essay of the celebrated Gay-Lussac, now become 

 quite classical, has exerted a singular influence upon the 

 minds of men, on the subject now under consideration. 

 Having been charged Avith the examination of the methods 

 of preserving provisions of Appert, Avhicli Avere nothing but 

 the industrial application of tlie experiments of Needham 

 and Spallanzani on the so-termed spontaneous generation, 

 Gay-Lussac uses these expressions : — " It is evident Avhen 

 the air in the bottles in Avhich the substances have been well 

 preserved is analysed, that it no longer contains oxygen ; and 

 consequently, that the absence of that gas is a necessary 

 condition for the conservation of animal and vegetable sub- 

 stances." 



In the same Avork Gay-Lussac relates the experiment since 

 so frequently cited, of grapes Avhich, having been crushed 

 under mercury, did not undergo fermentation unless they 



