268 A few Remarks on Dr. Bastian’s [Monthly Microscoptcal 
proper size, and when some simple objects, such as the glittering 
leaves of foliage waving in the sunbeam, cannot be reproduced by 
one objective and are nevertheless beautifully displayed by another 
—when fog contrasts with clearness; dull, dark portraiture with 
a bright, sharp, delicate tracing—no guarantee of the great globule- 
test compensates for such glaring errors when once seen and their 
modus operandi understood. 
(To be continued.) 
IV.—A few Remarks on Dr. Bastian’s Papers on Spontaneous 
Generation. By Mertcatre Jounson, M.R.C.8.E., Lancaster.* 
THE question of spontaneous generation has once more been raised 
by Dr. Bastian in two very elaborate papers in ‘ Nature,’ elucidated 
by experiments not only fresh but apparently conclusive, if we 
accept certain postulates respecting vitality in organic matter; but 
despite the closeness of reasoning, there is yet wanting that some- 
thing which carries with it such conviction to the minds of Pans- 
permatists as to induce them altogether to abandon their faith and 
to adopt in its place “such a belief (that hving things may and do 
arise de novo) which necessarily carries with it a rejection of M. 
qo theory of putrefaction, and the so-called ‘Germ theory of 
isease.’” 
Dr. Bastian postulates that a temperature of 150°C. causes 
death to all organic “ germs,” and we believe that when the change 
called “death” has once passed upon a cell (or as Professor Owen 
says, it is “ devived”’) that it cannot be “ revived,” but is converted 
by other living particles to their own sustenance. But what this 
death or non-life consists in we know not. We see the Polyp 
growing and we say it “lives,” the chalk-stone, and we say it is 
“dead,” but the pomt of divergence between dead and living we 
cannot fix. 
This difficulty is shown when Prof. Beale attempts to draw 
the line between “germinal” and “formed” matter, or when 
H. Spencer essays “ the proximate definition of life.” 
Certain things we know, and certain others we do not know, 
concerning the power of germs to resist changes of temperature. 
Thus we know that Vibrions retain their vitality after fifteen days’ 
existence in ice, that confervoid filaments are “ revitalized” after 
having been for some time dried up.t I have myself seen Vibrions 
active in ten minutes after having been in solid ice for six days. 
* It is but fair to Mr. M. Johnson to say that his paper was in our hands 
before either Professor Huxley’s address was delivered or Professor Bastian’s 
paper was read. 
t Hassall, Introd., pp. 36, 37. 
