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292 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE, 



began to develop into mycelial filaments^ /.^. the growth 

 of each was continuous rather than discontinuous. 



The thick- walled spores — if such was their real 

 nature — had either developed or come into existence, 



r 



under the influence of the high temperature and the 

 disturbed electrical condition of the atmosphere^. And 

 whatever their nature, they seemed to be so much the 

 creatures of these conditions as to be unable to survive 

 under those which followed. 



It seems certain, at all events, that these bodies re- 

 sembling 'Fungus-s'^oxts originated separately in different 

 parts of the solution. And neither have the real spores 

 w^hich they resemble been observed to multiply either 

 by fission or gemmation : they have not even been 

 found aggregated together in a fashion which would 

 suggest the probability of this method of multipHca- 

 tion. The real spores have likewise been seen in 

 gradually diminishing sizes, down to the 

 visible specks. 



smallest 



What, then, is the origin of the plastide-particles 

 which develop into Bacteria^ ToruU^ or other low forms 

 of life that so soon swarm in infusions of animal or 

 vegetable substances, and in certain saline or ammo- 

 niacal solutions ? Do they owe their origin to the 



the 



multiplication of germs pre-existing in the air, 



1 We may, perhaps, connect this possibility with the well-known fact 

 that milk, beer, and other fluids are so very prone to turn sour during a 

 thunder-storm, or whilst it is threatening. 



luc 



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are 



the q^^ 



Can 



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of plasti^^- 

 himself ac 



be a 



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and whic 



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iqoe, 1 85 2 J p. 



ont could no' 



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 gst the or?an 



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ension in tl 



iQvestigatioi 



*incan,theref 



as to the 



