f 



6 



THE BEGINNINGS OF IIFE. 



tains any notable quantity of living Bacteria^ or of thei 



whether visible or invisible. I have alwa 



r 



germs^ 



ys 



found that a simple solution of amnionic tartrate 

 which has been placed — without previous boiling— in 

 a corked bottle of greater capacity, will become turbid 

 in two or three days, owing to the presence of myriads 

 oi Bacteria i whilst a similar solution, previously boiledj 



k 



¥ 



i 



may remain for ten days, three weeks, or more, without [ 



neck of the bottle or flask in which it is contained 



may 



be covered only by a loose cap of paper. And yet^ 

 at any time^ in order to make this fluid become turbid 

 in twenty-four to forty-eight hours, all that one has 

 to do is to bring it into contact with a small glass 

 rod which has just been dipped into a solution con- 

 taining living Bacteria ^ 



I 



we 



brought into contact with living Bacteria^ what can 

 conclude, but that living Bacteria are not very common 



? 



in the atmosphere : 



easily verified by other observers 



These most striking facts can be 



I 

 I 

 I 



2 



r 



^ The solution during the whole time being exposed to a temperatu 

 of 75° to 85° F. . 



^ Somewhat similar facts were indeed first recorded by Prof. Canton 

 ' Rendiconti di Lombardo,' Nov. 25, 1869. 



results of th" 



son • 



Speak 



he had been 



posure has ar 



microzymes- 



accorda 



plete accui u- 

 to their rela 



showing the least trace of turbidity, although the open state^ to moi^ 



necessary to 



following is 1 



were made v 



bent glass tu 



potashj kno^ 



and filled v 

 attached^ by 

 previously b 

 ing week a: 



If we find that an eminently inoculable fluid will 

 remain for two or three weeks, or perhaps more, in 

 contact with the air without becoming turbid, though daily. On 

 it will always become turbid in two or three days if ^ with submei 



cially in the: 

 but no trace 

 "^ost strikin, 



/'"<"« living 



On this subject also, I am glad to find that nij^ develop 



degree of 



M 



ex 

 tei 



