250 DORMANT STATE OF BIOPLASM. 



be less certain, while the probability of invasion would 

 grow less as time advanced, and the development of 

 new germs would become impossible. 



It will probably be noticed that the above remarks 

 are as applicable to the development of normal, as to 

 that of abnormal forms of bioplasm. For multitudes 

 of the lower forms of life spring into activity when- 

 ever the conditions favourable to their growth prevail. 

 They may remain so quiescent for months, that no 

 one would believe that their germs were in existence, 

 but in a night the air or water of a district may become 

 peopled with countless multitudes of beings, not one 

 of which was to be found a few hours previously. No 

 wonder the air or the water was supposed to create 

 them, and that the doctrine of spontaneous generation 

 was the belief of the vulgar. It is not a little remark- 

 able that such a view, driven as it has been from one 

 position to another during the last two hundred years, 

 should yet find advocates among the most active 

 intellects of these days. Instead of despairing, its 

 supporters still keep up such a show of vigorous 

 resistance, that the public, judging only from the 

 information afforded by Avarm advocates of hetero- 

 genesis, is led to believe that although a horse, a 

 mouse, a maggot, a worm, a rose, and even a mush- 

 room unquestionably came from living things of the 

 same kind which lived before them, very low micro- 

 scopic forms, which are only to be seen with difficulty 

 under the highest powers, spring direct from the non- 



