Bacteria in Organic Infusions. 127 



in those tubes in which Hfe appeared had softened and spread out 

 to a certain extent on the side of the tube. The cheese-lumj)S in 

 Nos. 42 and 44 retained their original form. 



From the result of these later experiments, made in consequence 

 of the fuller information given by Dr. Sanderson as to Dr. Bastian's 

 mode of treating turnij) and cheese so as to obtain phenomena sup- 

 posed to be in favour of the doctrine of Arcliebiosis, we consider 

 that the importance of excluding visible lumps from the experi- 

 mental infusions is clearly indicated, as also is the comj^aratively 

 greater trustworthiness of the small tube as opposed to the larger 

 retort for use as an experimental vessel. We moreover consider 

 that we, in our earlier experiments (November and December), 

 carefully following Dr. Bastian's directions, as far as he had given 

 any in the ' Beginnings of Life,' but using at the same time proper 

 care as to cleanliness and due boiling, obtained a series of results 

 contradicting Dr. Bastian's statements as to the spontaneous gene- 

 ration of Bacteria in infusion of turnip to which a fragment of 

 cheese had been added. 



Further, certain of the experiments above recorded, and others 

 made at the same times with open vessels and simple turnip- 

 infusion, compel us to dissent emphatically from the conclusion 

 of the following statement contained in a recent paper by Dr. Bas- 

 tian ('Nature,' Feb. 6th, p. 275) :—" Taking such a fluid there- 

 fore in the form of a strong filtered infusion of turnip, we may 

 place it after ebullition in a superheated flask, with the assurance 

 that it contains no living organisms. Having ascertained also, by 

 our previous experiments with the boiled saline fluids, that there is 

 no danger of infection by Bacteria from the atmosphere, we may 

 leave the rather narrow mouth of the flask open, as we did in these 

 experiments. But when this is done, the previously clear turnip- 

 infusion invariably becomes turbid in one or two days (the tem- 

 perature being about 70° F.), owing to the presence of myriads of 

 Bacteria." The italics are our own. 



We find not only that such an infusion remains free from 

 Bacteria when thus treated (subject, of course, to certain failures 

 in the precautions taken) for " one or two days," but if contamina- 

 tion by the admission of coarse atmospheric particles capable of 

 carrying Bacteria be guarded against, it will remain so for weeks 

 and probably so for years. In consequence of this absence of 

 development of Bacteria we have cultivated Torulm in such a 

 turnip-infusion, so as to obtain them entirely free from the former 

 organisms.* 



* At this moment, May 20th, the turnip-infusion in the open retort (No. 41) 

 is free from all oi'ganisms, and is perfectly limpid and sweet. 



