126 REPORT— 1871. 



not been superheated, or had been contaminated by water which had not been 

 boiled. 



Bacteria were shown not to exist in the air under ordinary circumstances. "Water 

 was shown to be the primary source from which the germinal particles of Bacteria 

 are derived, whenever they seem to originate in the organic solutions experimented 

 with. This conclusion was satisfactorily demonstrated by impregnating organic 

 solutions (which otherwise could be kept indefinitely barren of all organisms) with 

 a di'op or two of ordinary water, whereupon, in the course of a week, the develop- 

 ment of Bacteria manifested itself in the clearest manner to the naked eye. This 

 zymotic property («'. e. the faculty of determining the development of organic forms 

 in a test solution to which it is added) is not possessed by all kinds of water in a 

 lilce degree. Distinct degrees of opalescence (due to Bacteria chiefly) are manifested 

 in Pasteur's solution when eprouvettes, charged with a given quantity of boiled 

 Pasteur's solution, are impregnated with equal quantities of water from different 

 sources. 



Even ordinary distilled water was never found to be free from Bacteria germs. 

 This was attributed to contamination with other water, or improperly cleaned 

 receptacles. Filtration seems to have no appreciable influence on the zymotic pro- 

 perty of water. From the most careful and repeated examination of water proved 

 to be zj'motic, it was found that such waters often contain no elements or particles 

 which can be detected by the microscope. Experiments were made with optically 

 pure water as in the sense used by Prof. Tyndall, or so nearly optically pure, that 

 the electric beam in passing through it displays a blue colour ; such water obtained 

 by the fusion of ice was shown to be as zymotic as many other varieties of water, 

 which in the beam are seen to be full of light-scattering particles. 



Microzymes and their germs are deprived of vitality by thorough desiccation ; 

 they are likewise killed by peimangauate of potash, ozone, carbolic acid in the 

 proportion of -5 per cent, of the liquid, sulphate of quinia in the same proportion, 

 peroxide of hydrogen, and chlorine. 



Torula and PeniciUium, however, flourished in solutions which were fatal to Bac- 

 teria. When an albuminous or saccharine fluid is superheated (i, e. above 100° C), 

 it does not support microzjaue life. 



Experiments were made to determine whether the liquids and tissues of the 

 living body participate in the zymotic propertj' possessed hy microzjTnes. It was 

 .shown that blood, fresh tissues, m-ine, milk, white of e^^, pus from deep-seated ab- 

 scesses, were free from microzymes, and further, that these tissues and fluids could 

 be kept indefinite! j' free from all traces of decomposition if proper precautions were 

 taken to preserve them from external contamination. 



It was farther shown that the slightest contact with ordinary water, or surfaces 

 clean'ed in the ordinary manner, was sufficient to set up septic changes in theee 

 tissues and liquids. It was therefore concluded that if microzymes are not the 

 only cause of putrefaction, yet their presence is suflicieut to set it up in liquids 

 which otherwise manifested no tendency to septic changes. In regard to contagious 

 liquids, few experiments had yet been made. Only in reference to pysemic pus an 

 experiment had been made ; it was found full of Bacteria. From numerous fiicts 

 and observations made during the progress of the inquiry, it was concluded that 

 there is no developmental connexion between Bacteria and Torula, and that their 

 apparent association is merely one of juxtaposition. 



This conclusion is a direct contradiction to the botanical doctrines on which 

 Hallier's theory of contagion is founded. 



On the Establishment of Local Museums. By T. B. GRrEESON. 



The establishment of local museums was pointed out as a means of giving a taste 

 for learning and science to the people, for which, in the smaller towns and rural 

 districts, there was no provision. Collections could readily be made ; and in every 

 disti'ict objects of interest would be met with, which a local museum would be 

 the means of saving and bringing to light. Persons commissioned by scientific 

 societies or one of the central institutions should make periodic visitations, and aid 



