
EXAMINATION OF PASTEUR’S DOCTRINES 97 
found in my experimental vessels were only dead 
organisms, previously contained in the fluids and 
killed by the heat. 
My answer to this was given shortly afterwards 
in the following terms:1—‘‘If fluids zz vacuo (in 
hermetically sealed flasks), which were clear at first, 
have gradually become turbid; and if, on micro- 
scopical examination, this turbidity is found to be 
almost wholly due to the presence of Bacteria or 
other organisms; then it would be sheer trifling 
gravely to discuss whether the organisms were 
living or dead, on the strength of the mere activity 
or languor of the movements which they may be 
seen to display. Can dead organisms multiply in a 
closed flask to such an extent as to make an 
originally clear fluid become quite turbid in the 
course of two or three days?” 
The same utter incredulity, however, continued 
to be felt concerning the results of my experiments. 
This cannot be better shown than by reproducing 
some passages from a review of my then recently 
published work, ‘‘The Beginnings of Life,’ which 
appeared in the Academy of November 1, 1872, 
signed by H. M. Moseley, who subsequently dis- 
tinguished himself by his investigations as one of 
the naturalists of the Challenger expedition. This 
writer says :— 
‘“‘Dr Bastian seals the flasks with which he is experimenting 
during ebullition of the contained fluid, and by this means, when 
the apparatus has become cool, a partial vacuum is formed in the 
vessel. Experiments were made in this way with hay and turnip 

' “Modes of Origin of Lowest Organisms,” 1871, p. 9. 
G 
