TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 133 



a current of it the germs produced in one mass of matter into another. To effect 

 this, the purified air was made to bubble through a pint of iiuid in an active 

 state of alcoholic fermentation, one of acetic fermentation, one of butyric, and in 

 one containing putrid meat. The results were, that a very small quantity of life 

 was observed under the microscope after several hours in pure water, weak sugar 

 or albumen solution through which the air from the alcoholic or acetic fermentatiA'e 

 fluids had passed ; but it was in large quantities in the albumen solutions, in which 

 the air had previously bubbled through the putrid fluid and butyric ferment, — 

 thus showing that the germs belonging to the vegetable kingdom cannot be con- 

 veyed any distance by air in motion, whilst those of the animal kingdom are easily 

 carried. 



There are many experiments which the author intends publishing, but he 

 limits himself to record only one, in consequence of the light it throws on many of 

 the results published of late on spontaneous generation, viz. that if the albumen 

 of a newly laid egg is mixed with pure distilled water free from life, and the 

 whole exposed to the atmosphere for half an hour, life will be observed, and in an 

 hour or two mycrozyma and vibrios will be found in considerable quantities; 

 therefore no experiment as to the existence of life in fluids is of any value except 

 when air has been excluded, and that the fluid intended for examination has not 

 been exposed for a short time to the atmosphere. 



The author hopes shortly to present to the Iloj'al Society papers on the " Te- 

 nacity of Microscopic Life," "The Special Germs of Putrefaction," "Sponta- 

 neous Germination,' and, lastly, "On the Germ Theories of Contagious and In- 

 fectious Diseases." 



On the Controversj/ on Sjiiontancom Generation, with new Experiments. 



Bij James Sasixtelsow. 



The author discussed at length the present position of the controversy on hetero- 

 wenesis, or the supposed creation of the lowest form of plants and animals de novo. 

 He first refeiTed to the theological bearing of the subject, which he believed to be 

 overrated. But the author expressed his opinion, resulting from experiments and 

 observations which extended over a long series of years, that those who prefer to 

 adopt the theory of the creation of living forms only from germs ah'eady in ex- 

 istence would eventually find their view to be correct. He then proceeded to con- 

 sider the recent experiments of Dr. Bastian, who believes that he has not only been 

 able to create " protoplasm " by the combination of inorganic materials, as it was 

 hinted possible some time since by Professor Huxley, but that under his hands 

 there had been spontaneously produced from inorganic materials, combined in a 

 manner circumstantially described by him, "truly organized plants and small ciliated 

 infusoria." The author first criticized the terms in which Dr. Bastian had de- 

 scribed the results of his experiments, characterizing them as vague, and giving 

 instances of the vagueness. Then he showed how some of them were absolutely 

 adverse to Dr. Bastian's own hypothesis ; and finally he proceeded to describe at 

 length a number of experiments of his own, made in June, July, and August last, 

 and to compare them with notes of a series of experiments tried by him in 1863, 

 which left little doubt on his mind that the plant types (mildew or mould) believed 

 by Dr. Bastian to have been spontaneously produced in infusions, really spring from 

 atmospheric germs, which, in some instances, become developed in the open air 

 upon bare rocks and stones, but which the author showed to be present in rain- 

 water fallen from the clouds, and in distilled water exposed to the air. The result 

 of his experiments may be thus briefly epitomized : — In IS&i the author found the 

 same plant types (various stages of mildew) in infusions of orange-juice, cabbage- 

 juice, and pure distilled water exposed to the air; and during the past summer ho 

 again found the identical types in infusion of orange-juice, and in water caught in a 

 shower of rain. At both periods, too, he found low animal types in the atmosphere. 

 The author concluded his paper as follows : — " Here I leave to the judgment of 

 men of science the results of my experiments, which any boy possessed of a micro- 

 scope may repeat as effectually as I have performed them. And if the believers in 



