Lt? PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BACTERIA. 
The bacteria present in this respect numerous va- 
riations according to the species and the period of 
development which they have attained. In the 
state of permanent spores, they are extremely ten- 
acious of vitality. They resist for a long time 
not only dessication, but a considerable elevation 
of temperature. 
Among the bacteria, some are developed in liq- 
uids, — the greater number, — others upon damp 
surfaces. The former can live in fresh water, sea- 
water, thermal waters, and the liquids of animal 
or vegetable organisms, etc. A surprising fact 
is, that the composition, so different, of fresh and 
sea water appears to have no influence upon the 
bacteria. We find in both all the species, from 
Bacterium termo to Spirillum volutans. 
Nitrogen. — Pasteur has demonstrated that it is 
not necessary that the nitrogen which is to serve as 
nutriment to the bacteria should be in the form of 
albumen, but that these organisms can take posses- 
sion of it in the form of ammonia. 
In fact, in Pasteur’s solution, composed as fol- 
lows : — 
Distilled water sc ae gc. as. 100; 
pudar. candy. “pce ono .) ae 
Tartrate of ammoma .-. is (°° 71. 
Ashes of one gramme of yeast . = 0.075. 
the bacteria increase sometimes with such rapidity 
that they interfere with the development of the 
alcoholic ferment. 
