
“ Dr Bastian's Experiments on the Beginnings of 
Life.” 
In every experimental science it is of great 
importance that the methods by which leading facts 
can be best demonstrated should be as clearly 
defined and as widely known as possible. This is 
particularly true as regards physiology, a science of 
which the experimental basis is as yet imperfect. 
All experiments by which a certainty can be shown 
to exist where there was before a doubt, serve as 
foundation stones. It is well worth taking some 
pains to lay them properly. 
Your readers are aware that Dr Bastian, in his 
work on the Beginnings of Life, has asserted that 
in certain infusions the ‘lower organisms” come 
into existence under conditions which have been 
generally admitted to exclude the possibility of the 
pre-existence of living germs. It is also well known 
that these experimental results are disputed. 
Not long ago I witnessed the opening of a 
number of experimental flasks charged many months 
ago by a friend of mine with infusions supposed to 
be similar to those recommended by Dr Bastian. 
The flasks had been boiled and closed hermetically 
according to Dr Bastian’s method. Finding on 
careful microscopical examination that the contents 
of the flasks contained no living organisms, I 
charged calcined tubes with the liquids, sealed them 
hermetically, and forwarded them to Dr Bastian. 
When I next saw him he pointed out that two of 
the three liquids used were not those which he had 
