150 EXPERIMENTS OF DUTROCHET 



outset all idea of spontaneous, or equivocal 

 generation, and attributes germination to tlie 

 causes to which they have been before assigned 

 by the writer. 



The first thing he discovered was, that pure 

 albumen is altogether unfit for the growth of 

 any kind of mould. A solution of white of 

 egg in distilled water, kept for a whole year, 

 yielded no mould whatever, though placed in a 

 damp situation, and in all the other conditions 

 usually deemed propitious. This liquid Avas 

 then taken, and placed in glass vessels contain- 

 ing an ounce each, and into every one was put 

 a single drop of some ac'.d. The acids applied 

 were sulphuric, nitric, muriatic, phosphoric, 

 acetic, and oxalic. In every case, after about 

 eight days, articulated moulds, of the same 

 microscopic character as common blue mould, 

 with which almost every one is familiar, made 

 their appearance. These beaded threads con- 

 stantly grew under these circumstances ; but 

 if there was added more than a certain quantity 

 of any of these acids, there were no results at 

 all. The mixture was found to be too strong. 



It next occurred to Dutrochet to try alkalis, 

 instead of acids. Accordingly he dropped into 

 the solution of white of egg in distilled water. 



