On the Art ion of I [rut on Prntophisini'r Lif, 



\:v^ 



The results rocordrd in tlic iiliovc ThIjIcs show tliat protoplasmic 

 life is but slii,'litly atVi-i-trd by a temperature of 2 1 'J' F., and that even 

 at a temperature of 'M)() V. it is not entirely destroyed, exceptin;; 

 in the case of gelatine. In all the other fluids a temi)erature of 

 •100° F. is necessary to completely destroy the life. These experi- 

 ments, therefore, clearly show that the life found by previous experi- 

 menters in fluids which have been submitted to heat was not due 

 to heterogencsis, but to life which had remained in the fluids, as I 

 have seen no experiment reported where the temperature to which 

 the fluids were exf)osed exceeded 300' F.* 



I am the more justified in making this statement, as I have re- 

 peatedly examined the contents of tubes which had been submitted 

 to a temperature of -lOO"" F., both immediately after cooling and at 

 all periotls up to thirty days, and was unable in any instance to detect 

 the slightest trace of life. 



This important result corroborates those recorded in my previous 

 j)aper, and proves that the spontaneous-generation theory is not yet 

 i>y any means established. 



It occurred to me that it might be interesting to examine the in- 

 fluence on pure albumen of the juitrid-meat fluids that had been 

 heated, and note whether they still possessed the property of propa- 

 gating life. A solution was prepared by mixing the albumen of a 

 new-laid egg with pure distilled water free from life (prepared as de- 

 scribed in my previous paper). Equal volumes of tliis solution were 

 placed in six small test-tubes, which had been cleansed with hot vitriol 

 and well washed with pure water. To one tube two drops were added 

 of the putrid-meat solution that had been heated to 100° F., to 

 a second two drops of that heated to 212° F., to a third two drops 

 of that heated to 300*^ F., to a fourth an equal l)ulk of fluid heated to 

 Ado"" F., and to a fifth the same quantity heated to 500° F. In the 

 sixth the albuminous solution, without any thing added, was kept for 

 comparison. 



The tubes were sealed, and kept from the 1st of February to the 

 9th. 



Results of Examination. 



Albumen 

 solution. 



In each drop 

 2 or 3 small 

 black vibrios, 

 moving to and 

 fro. 



Albumen so- 



hition, with 



putrid-meat 



liquor, heated 



to 100° F. 



Abiindanee 

 of life. 



Albumen so- 

 lution, with 

 putrid-meat 

 liquor, heated 

 to 212° F, 



Abundance 

 of life. 



Albumen so- 

 lution, with 

 putrid-meat 



liquor, heated 

 to 300° F. 



Albumen so- 

 lution, with 

 putrid-meat 

 liquor, heated 

 to 400° F. 



Much less life In each drop 



than in the 2 or 3 small 



two fluids pre- black vibrios, 



viously exa- moving to and 



mined. fro. 



Albumen so- 

 lution, with 

 putrid-meat 

 liquor, heated 

 to 500° F. 



In each drop 

 2 or 3 small 

 black vibrios, 

 moving to and 

 fro. 



* It is with pleasure that I find these experiments to confirm the suggestion 

 of Dr. Beale, in his work entitled " Disease-Germs, their supposed Origin," 

 page 50 (which I read a few weeks ago), that " living forms might live though 

 exposed, under certain conditions, to a tcmpei-ature of 350° F." 



