138 
PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
they in any way constitute the carriers of the infection ; and, as regards 
their origin, it is uncertain whether they are introduced with the 
syphilitic poison, or whether the blood is so altered in syphilis as to 
permit their growth when derived from other sources. In the note 
appended by Strieker to Lostorfer’s paper, he says that he tested Dr. 
Lostorfer’s ability to diagnose syphilitic blood under the microscope 
on six occasions. On the first he sent him twelve proof specimens, of 
which Nos. 8 and 9 were taken from healthy persons, and the re- 
mainder from three different patients suffering from syphilis. In a 
few days Lostorfer replied : — “ Nos. 8 and 9 non-syphilitic ; two pre- 
parations spoilt ; the remainder syphilitic.” In the second list there 
were seven numbered proofs, and in the third nine proofs, and in each 
of these the syphilitic cases were correctly diagnosed. In the fourth 
list, however, no results were obtained ; but this Lostorfer explained 
by stating that all the specimens had accidentally been exposed to a 
very low temperature ( - 12° C.). The remaining tests, including one 
by Professor Hebra, seem to have been very fairly made out. What- 
ever may be the ultimate conclusion arrived at, enough has certainly 
been ascertained to lead to atteption being paid to the subject ; and 
as the field of observation is unfortunately only too common, it is pro- 
bable that positive results will soon be obtained. High powers, im- 
mersion lenses, and some experience with the moist chamber, are 
indispensable for pursuing the inquiry. 
Spontaneous Generation : Arguments against . — A very able and 
clearly-reasoned paper, though it is against the theory, is that of Mr. 
W. N. Hartley, F.C.S., of King’s College Laboratory. It is to be 
found in full in the ‘ Proceedings of the Eoyal Society,’ No. 132, 
1872. The paper is of some length, and should be consulted by those 
interested in the matter. We merely give the author’s account of the 
well-known Child and Wyman experiments. He says it has long been 
established by Pasteur, Payen, and other experimenters, that a tem- 
perature of less than 130° C. is insufficient to destroy all trace of life 
if the germs or spores are not immersed in a liquid ; this is a fact 
admitted on all sides. In that case it is not difficult to understand 
how, in the experiments of Dr. Child and Prof. Wyman, organisms 
have been found in liquids to which air only which had passed through 
red-hot pipes was admitted. The former took a bulb with two narrow 
necks or tubes, and containing the experimental liquid; one tube was 
connected by a cork boiled in water with a red-hot porcelain tube 
filled with pumice, and connected with a gas-holder ; the other tube 
dipped into sulphuric acid : the liquid was boiled for ten or fifteen 
minutes, and heated air was made to pass through the apparatus till 
the liquid and flask were cool. “ When the bulb is quite cool, the 
necks are sealed by means of a lamp.” In Wyman’s experiments an 
apparatus of much the same kind was used ; but the liquids in four 
cases were boiled for from five to ten minutes in a Papin’s digester, 
under a pressure of from two to five atmospheres, or at a temperature 
of 120° to 150° C. Large flasks of 500 cub. centims., and even 850 
cub. centims. capacity were used, containing 17 cub. centims. to 50 
cub. centims., or thereabouts, of solution, so that in some cases 
