1 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



Ammoniacal Solutions (in vacuo) in Flasks which were her- 

 metically sealed during Ebullition of their Fluids at a 

 Temperature of 90 F. 1 (Subsequently exposed in water -bath 

 to a Temperature 0/"75-85 F.} 



No. LVII. Ammonic Tartrate Solution after sixty 

 hours showed a slight sediment, with bluish flakes attached 

 to sides of flask. In eighty-four hours there was a general 

 bluish opalescence, and on microscopical examination the 

 fluid was found to contain multitudes of Bacteria. 



No. LVIII. Ammonic Tartrate and Sodic Phos- 

 phate Solution. After sixty hours there was a slight 

 general bluish opalescence. In eighty-four hours the general 

 opalescence was not more marked, but there were many 

 flake -like aggregations in the fluid, which, on microscopical 

 examination, were found to be aggregations of Bacteria. 



starting points for the new combinations than solutions of ammonic 

 acetate. The comparison of experiment No. LI. with No. LIL is ex- 

 tremely interesting in reference to the dogma that phosphorus is a 

 necessary ingredient in living matter. Solutions of the ammonic tartrate 

 in distilled water have been twice analyzed for me by a skilful chemist 

 without revealing the least trace either of phosphorus or sulphur. This 

 result is very remarkable when compared with the amount of living 

 matter which may so soon appear in such a solution : the number of the 

 organisms and the rapidity of their evolution, being almost equal to that 

 which occurs in a similar solution to which a phosphate has been added. 

 However much, therefore, phosphorus may aid the development of 

 organisms in many fluids, there is still an important difference between 

 many and oil, which, if more frequently borne in mind, would render 

 universal propositions more scarce (see ' Journal of Chemical Society,' 

 March, 1871, pp. 72-74). The truth of the dictum ' Obne Phosphor gar 

 Jiein Leben,' is, I venture to think, far from being proved. If it be ac- 

 cepted because evidence (referring only to particular fluids) which is 

 really insufficient, such a dictum seems to testify to its truth ; and if then, 

 the presence of organisms in any fluid is to be taken as evidence of the 

 existence of phosphorus (even though this cannot be otherwise substan- 

 tiated), the theoretical relationship of phosphorus to Life would come to 

 be very similar to the old views concerning germs and Life. 



Mutato nomine de te 

 Fabula narratur. 



1 The fluids were boiled at the low temperature, with the aid of 

 an air-pump, simply in order to procure a more perfect vacuum in 

 the flasks ; these experiments being destined to show whether the 



