220 The Monad's Place in Nature. 



It has been noticed that in ahnost all substances or liquids exa- 

 mined, the first evidence of life is found in the movement of most 

 minute bodies. An instance of this and the subsequent develop- 

 ment is well shown in the following case : — 



On the 1st August, 1871, I took a piece of fluff from under a 

 carpet and book-case, which had for some time remained undis- 

 turbed. 



On examination, it consisted mainly of the coloured broken 

 pieces of wool from the carpet, as well as pieces of flax, together 

 with the ordinary contents of dust, such as soot-flakes, splinters of 

 flint, and amorphous particles — starch grains, &c. 



I then took six drachm-bottles, put a small piece of the fluff 

 into each bottle, and half filled it with water. (This was taken 

 from the tap in which no organisms are perceptible, nor do organ- 

 isms develop from it when placed under similar circumstances to 

 the present experiment. It may therefore be inferred that any 

 living things which should from time to time appear, were due to 

 the dust, and not to the water). The bottles were then tied over 

 with carded cotton, and examined as follows, with the results 

 named. 



The bottles were marked A, B, C, D, E, and F. 



August 3rd (after two days). — Nothing but Brownian movements 

 visible in bottle A. 



August 4th. — Bottle B, unmistakable movements among the par- 

 ticles in a cyclical direction. One particle circulated first in one 

 direction, and afterwards in another. The larger particles seem to 

 be moved by some smaller but invisible objects. 



August 5th. — Examined bottle C, and found very active Monads, 

 apparently attached by a pedicle to some particle of amorphous 

 matter.* Movements undoubtedly voluntary. The appearance of the 

 Monad is round at first, but apparently changing shape from time to 

 time, as if of an amoeboid form. The size, under 300 x , is of a good- 

 sized pin's bead. Under 700 x , I found one having the movement 

 and appearance of a young Paramcecium. 



August 8th. — Examined bottle D, with similar results. 

 „ loth. — Examined bottle E : the Monads smaller. 

 „ 12lh. — Examined bottle F, and found most unmistakable 

 Kolpoda cucnllus ; movements cyclical and rotating on their own axes, 

 apparently about i inch long by ^ inch in diameter when magnified 

 250 times (about -^^ inch in length). 



One or two points here require observation. It is a question 

 siih judiee as to the cause of the Brownian movements. I am in- 

 clined to the belief that they are due to the presence of life in some 

 objects too small for independent vision by the microscope. I have 



* IVIy fiitnd Mr. Chaiitrell, of Liverpool, informs me that he has watched the 

 growth of Vorticelhc, and finds tho stalk developed before the head. 



