96 



THE FLOATING-MATTER OF THE AIR. 



Suspended particles in the potato-infusion produced a 

 somewhat similar effect, but it was by no means so 

 fine as that of the oyster-infusion. By ordinary filtra- 

 tion it was not possible completely to rid the malt and 

 oatmeal infusions of suspended matter ; but both remain 

 exactly as they were when the flasks containing them 

 were sealed. 



These experiments had been made before the volume 

 of the Transactions of the Pathological Society con- 

 taining the discussion referred to above came into my 

 hands. ^ It caused me to turn again to my tubes, seek- 

 ing further evidence. On the 12th of November thirty- 

 six of them were charged, boiled, and hermetically 

 sealed ; on the 13th fifty-seven, on the 16th thirty-one, 

 and on the 17th six tubes were similarly treated. The 

 entire group of tubes, therefore, numbered one hundred 

 and thirty. I tried moreover to multiply the chances 

 of spontaneous generation by making the infusions of 

 the most diverse materials. The following Table gives 

 the names of the substances operated on, the number 

 of tubes sealed, and the date of sealing : — 



* To the courtesy of Dr. Bastian I am indebted for a separate 

 copy of the report of the discussion here referred to. 



