i8 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



in which it is boiled for a period of ten minutes. One 



so that the air which re-enters is deprived of its germs 

 and organic particles; another (B) has only a short 

 neck_, and to this, the access of germs and organic 

 particles is freely permitted till the fluid has become 

 cool, when the neck of the flask is hermetically sealed; 

 whilst the last (C) is sealed during ebullition, after 

 all air has been expelled. Now, if Pasteui^s theory 



t 



of fermentation, and the prevalent notions concerning 

 the universal distribution of ^ germs ^ throughout the 



^ On what other supposition can one explain the results of '^^P- 

 Ivii-lxv? 



f# 



i 





\ 



jemaifl 



has undergone change in a closed flask without any such 

 hypothetical sowing of living spores or germs. It is 

 more especially important to bear this consideration in 

 mind, seeing that portions of organic matter can always 

 be easily demonstrated amongst such atmospheric dust • 

 whilst living Bacteria have been shown by Cantoni 

 Sanderson, and myself to be almost always absent i. 



The views hitherto expressed with reference to the 

 causes of fermentation and putrefaction, and concerning 

 the interpretations which M. Pasteur's experiments are 

 capable of receiving, seem to derive all the additional 

 support that can be needed, from the results of my own 

 experiments with boiled fluids in sealed flasks from 

 which all air had been expelled. 



Some of a given fluid being taken and divided into I \AU.muji}A 

 three parts, each portion is placed in a separate flask, j \u\-m\ a^^mtus ', 



be ' 



unc 



change, anc 

 • whilst that i 



fiire; 

 id in from two i 



aot the case that sc 

 l| M, Pasteur, will 

 in bent-neck vessels 



ion would 



•Pasteur's the 



of the flasks (A) is provided with a long and bent neck, I from le flask jI^q^ 



'ecting the fluid 



k that 



as 



some of tl 



? 



as 



cJEbe 



are in , 



"latie to fer 



"gh the 



mere 



e 



§est 



°^ to Al. 



n Proofs of 



^ 



H 



% 



'»'s W I '* ^' f *>, 



and 



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