358 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



filaments, constituted the reticulated pellicle which was 

 seen on the surface. The Leptothrix fibres were partly 

 plain, and partly segmented; they presented except 

 in respect of their length an appearance almost pre- 



FIG. 24. 



Bacteria, Vibriones, and Leptothrix filaments met with in a Turnip Infusion 

 which had been only five days in vacuo. ( X 800.) 



cisely similar to the Vibriones. The long filaments 

 seemed, in fact, to be only developed forms of the shorter 

 rod-like bodies. 



Experiment 3. A closed flask containing an infusion 

 of turnip 1 , was opened seventeen days after it had been 

 hermetically sealed. 



The fluid never exhibited any distinct turbidity, and 

 no pellicle formed on the surface ; there was, however, 

 an irregular covering of the bottom of the flask by fine 

 granular matter, with here and there a small patch of 

 filamentous-looking substance. No bad odour was 

 perceived when the flask was opened. 



1 See note 2, p. 357. 



