THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 355 



is different. c These,' he says, c are uniformly sterile ; 

 and the sterility is to be accounted for by the fact that 

 all the lower organisms and their germs are destroyed 

 in an acid fluid raised to the boiling point.' 



The latter statement seems to be quite true ; the 

 former, however, is one which has been negatived by 

 the experience of others, and which now may be shown 

 to be altogether erroneous. Alterations in the nature 

 of the fluid employed, or in the method of experimenta- 

 tion either singly or in combination easily show the 

 untenability of M. Pasteur's conclusion with respect to 

 the sterility of acid fluids. 



A. Experiments in which the fluids were raised to 

 a temperature of 2i2F for from 10 to 20 minutes, 

 and in which the flasks were hermetically sealed whilst 

 the fluids were still boiling. 



SERIES a. Fluids employed being filtered infusions, containing 

 organic matter in solution and having an acid reaction. 



Experiment i. A closed flask containing a very strong 

 infusion of hay (boiled for five minutes), to which had 

 been added ?nr th part of carbolic acid, was opened twelve 

 days after it had been hermetically sealed. 



The solution remained quite clear for the first four 

 days, but on the fifth day a small quantity of a 

 powdery sediment was observed, and also one small, 

 grey, flake-like mass. On the seventh day more minute 



A a 2 



