hearing on Spontaneous Generation. 179 



I find in my notes, Sept. 25th, 1870 :— 



A has a sediment of leptothrix (?) at bottom. This did not form 

 so soon as the others. 



B, several leptothrix plants (?) formed early. 



C has a plant of mncedo, green, floating on the top ; a dense white 

 sediment at bottom. This liquid was quite clear for ten days after it 

 was put up. 



D, copious deposit of filaments. 



E, a plant of leptothrix (?) at bottom. 



F, a small plant at bottom. 



I subsequently examined them under the microscope, and found 

 in A, branching leptothrix filaments containing spores in many of 

 the tubules, but surrounded by innumerable spores still. B the 

 same as A. C, beaded filaments (green to the naked eye) on a mass 

 of white leptothrix filaments. 



Feb. &th, 1871. — A and B contain leptothrix filaments and spores. 

 The bottles have no smell. 



C is a mass of beaded filaments on a plant of leptothrix. The 

 bottle smells musty. 



D, no smell ; small filaments ; few spores. 



E has not been opened since Aug. 12th. It now contains a white 

 film at bottom, composed of small filaments, not containing spores in 

 tubules, but a few composed of larger beads, bifurcating to form two 

 larger heads. 



F, like E, but smaller in quantity. 



For comparison, 1 oz. of the liq. ant. tart., made Aug. 12th, was 

 put into a 2-oz. bottle, and corked up — half air; and on Aug. 17th 

 leptothrix filaments began to appear. 



Oct. 6tJi, 1870. — Dissolved 50 grains of bichloride of mercury in 

 10 oz. of distilled water. 



Prepared a solution of iodide of potassium, of which 10 cubic 

 centimetres precipitated the red iodide of mercury from 1 oz. of the 

 above solution. 



Dissolved 5 grains of tartar emetic in 1 oz. of the liq. hyd. bi- 

 chlorid. Then added 10 cc. of the solution of iodide of potassium, 

 filled the bottle up to 1^ oz. with distilled water. Corked the bottle, 

 leaving a small bubble of air. Tied the cork down very tight, and 

 covered the whole of the cork and neck of the bottle with sealing-wax. 

 The red precipitate soon settled down to the bottom of the bottle. On 

 opening it, Feb. 5th, 1871, for examination, no trace of filament or 

 spore could be found. 



At the same time an ounce and half of water, warm from the still, 

 was put into a bottle with 5 grains of tartar emetic. It was corked 

 and sealed as before ; and on Feb. 5th, 1871, when opened for exami- 

 nation, no trace of any filament or spore could be discovered. 



Feb. 7th, 1871. — Examined the solutions, and found in the distilled 

 water several globular spores, one elongated so as to form a filament, 

 and a small bunch of four filaments with a few spores attached. The 

 bottles have been placed, open, in air and light. 



VOL. V. o 



