1 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE, 



Ammoniacal Solutions (in vacuo) in Flash which were her- 

 metically sealed during Ebullition of their Fluids at a 



of 



F. 



of 



{Subsequently exposed in water -bath 

 rF.) 



No. LVIL Ammonic Tartrate Solution after sixty 

 hours showed a slight sediment, with bluish flakes attached 

 to sides of flask. In eighty-four hours there was a general 

 bluish opalescence, and on microscopical examination the 

 fluid was found to contain multitudes of Bacteria. 



No. LVIIL Ammonic Tartrate and Sodic Phos- 

 phate Solution. — After sixty hours there was a slight 



starting points for the new combinations than solutions of ammonic 

 acetate. The compaiison of experiment No. LI. witli No. LIL is ex- 

 tremely interesting in reference to the dogma that phosphorus is a 

 necessary ingredient in hving matter. Solutions of the ammonic tartrate 

 in distilled water have been twice analyzed for me by a skilful chemist 

 without revealing the least trace either of phosphorus or sulphur. This 

 result is very remarkable when compared with the amount of hvmg 

 matter which may so soon appear in such a solution : the number of the 

 organisms and the rapidity of their evolution, being almost equal to that 

 M^hich occurs in a similar solution to which a phosphate has been added. 

 However much, therefore, phosphorus may aid the development of 

 organisms in many fluids, there is still an important difference" between 

 many and all, which, if more frequently borne in mind, would render 

 universal propositions more scarce (see ' Journal of Chemicai Society, 

 March, 1871, pp. 72-74). The truth of the dictum ' Oh?ie Phosfhorgar 

 Icein Lehen.; is, I venture to think, far from being proved. If ^^ ?^^?" 

 cepted because evidence (referring only to particular fluids) which is 

 really insufficient, such a dictum seems to testify to its truth ; and il tnen, 

 the presence of organisms in any fluid is to be taken as evidence ol tne 

 existence of phosphorus (even though this cannot be otherwise substan- 

 tiated), the theoretical relationship of phosphorus to Life would come to 

 be very similar to the old views concerning germs and Life. 



Mutato nomine de te 

 Fabula narratur. . , r 



1 The fluids were boiled at the low temperature, with the am 

 an air-pump, simply in order to procure a more perfect vacuum 

 the flasks ; these experiments being destined to show whether 



( 



\^ 





A» 



, fe LIX. 



\ 



ed qu'te 



cl< 



^* J k n 



inth day, 



In fifty 



jit op 



alescence 



bad become 



jjiiination 



it was 



\ 



&LX. Ami 



general bluish opalescence. "In eighty-four hours the general ^ HitioL-After 



opalescence was not more marked, but there were many ^ j seven davs no 



flake-like aggregations in the fluid, which, on microscopical ,,a minute dirf 

 examination, were found to be aggregations of Bacteria. 



ile bottom of t 

 ^Hfration had \ 

 I i above was stil 



i'dbvasmal] ] 

 •'■»i found to b( 

 *eous fibres 

 '^ granular ma 



■^Ssinall stages of 

 sed of b 



1 , 



■^1 



ran 



■^^^■astheni 



:^^^f*e flask 



inoc 



w 



A 



n 



solution i 

 more, h 





to 



an 



' hi ^^e of f 



Vet 





