( 846 j 
remained behind, dissolves very rapidly. I do not however, believe 
that this salt ever remains behind, for one always finally dips into 
excess of ammonia, and this evaporates in a few seconds. No mention 
is further made of harmful physical stimuli; we can therefore leave 
them out of account. L will merely observe now that in dragging 
the isolated cell across as I did originally (see my dissertation) and 
as NieuweNHers still does, there is a greater danger than in carrying 
it across according to my method (see below). 
The third test which my method is not supposed to satisfy, is 
that of the greatest possible simplicity, so that the modus operandi 
is within the reach of every investigator. This seems indeed to be 
the gravest objection, for at the beginning of his paper NIEUWENHUIS 
disposes of my method as pretty well useless. “It is — so he says 
there — much too complex for a general application, as it requires 
too much from the dexterity and patience of the investigator on 
account of the long time too, wanted in the application it would 
be troublesome even for a skilful experimentor, frequently to use it”. 
As regards this point, | cannot do better than quote my conclusion 
in my last paper’): durch einige Uebung bringt man es bald so 
weit, dass, wenn das Material ungefähr die richtige Verdünning 
hat.... man in ungefähr 5 Minuten eine Bakterie aus den Material- 
tropfen isohert und in den Kulturtropfen bringt”. And this applies 
to bacteria; fungus spores and yeast cells are treated still more 
easily. Experience has moreover taught me that anyone who is quite 
new to the method, acquires it as rapidly as the methods for staining 
spores or cilia. 
The fourth test, that asepsis should be easily maintained, is not 
further advanced as an objection to my method. Perhaps NirvWENHUIs 
is thinking here of my moist chambers which I do not pass through 
a flame each time, but which are internally coated with vaseline. 
In the hundreds of experiments which have gone through my hands, 
I have never observed a single case of infection ; the vaseline retains 
the organisms which fall on it, and the latter do not germinate. 
With reference to the above demand for simplicity, it might be 
pointed out that there is yet another objection to my method: the 
difficulty of making the glass needles. Certainly Nreuwenuuts’ needles 
are made more easily. In my last paper I mentioned however, on 
p. 18, that, so long as the method of manufacture had not yet been 
published, I would gladly personally help any one, who desired it. 
I wrote: “Eventuelle Anfragen werde ich indessen vorläufig gern 
entgegennehmen”. And this I have always done disinterestedly — 
1) p. 26. 
