604 Original Articles. [Oct., 
manner of the infusoria or of the spores of Mucidinee ;’ * and was 
induced through this discovery to undertake certain experiments, one 
of which we find thus described in a paper read before the Academy 
of Sciences :|— 
“Tn a series of flasks, containing 250 cubic centimetres, the author 
introduces the same putrescible liquid, in quantity sufficient to occupy 
about a third of the total volume of the vessel. ‘The necks of the flasks 
are drawn out in the spirit-lamp and the liquid is made to boil, the slender 
extremity of the neck being closed during ebullition. A vacuum is thus 
produced in the flask. He” (the experimenter) ‘‘ then breaks off the points 
in a given locality. The air enters with violence, drawing along with it 
all the dusty particles it may hold in suspension, and all the principles, 
known or unknown, associated with it. The flask is then immediately 
closed with the blowpipe, and placed in a stove heated to 20° or 30° C. 
(70° to 85° Fahr.), that is to say, in the best condition for the development 
of animalcules and mucores. The results of the following experiments are 
not in accordance with the principles generally admitted, but they are 
perfectly in agreement, on the other hand, with the idea of a dissemination 
of germs. In most cases in a few days the liquid begins to decompose, 
and in the flasks, although they may be placed in identical conditions, 
organisms of the most varied kinds will be seen to arise, far more varied, 
in fact, especially as regards the Mucidinee or Torulacez, than would have 
been produced if the liquids had been exposed to the common air. But 
on the other hand it often happens several times in each series of experi- 
ments, that the liquid remains absolutely unaffected, whatever may be the 
duration of its exposure in the stove, and just as if it had been filleé with 
air that had been exposed to a red heat.” 
M. Pasteur infers from the latter fact, that it is possible to find in 
certain localities a given quantity of air which contains no germs ;— 
his general conclusion being, however, as the reader will have observed, 
in favour of a diffusion of germs through the atmosphere. He also 
tried other experiments, in which various measures were adopted to 
intercept the germs in their passage to the infusions (on a similar 
principle to that employed by Schroeder), and his previous conclusions 
were verified by the results.$ 
But Pasteur’s experiments, satisfactory and conclusive as they may 
have appeared to some naturalists, have by no means passed unchal- 
lenged. Dr. Jeffries Wyman, of Boston, repeated them, as well as 
those of Schulze, with, as he affirms, precisely the opposite results ; 
and found that in cases where every precaution had been taken to 
eaclude germs from his infusions, they made their appearance after a 
few days. The vessels were opened in the presence of Professor Asa 
Gray, and in them were found chiefly the very lowest known forms ; 
* «Comptes Rendus,’ May 7, 1860: translated in the ‘ Microscopical Journai,’ 
1860, p. 255. 
+ ‘Comptes Rendus,’ Sept. 8, 1860: translated in the ‘Microscopical Journal,’ 
April, 1861. 
+ Albuminous water from the yeast of beer; albuminous water containing 
sugar, urine, &e. 
§ He even went so far as to “sow” the germs intercepted by cotton wool in 
infusions which had before been unproductive of infusoria, and stated that animal- 
cule then made their appearance, 
