388 G. Child on the production of Organisms in closed vessels. 
MM. Pasteur and Pouchet. It is worth noticing, that the fact 
so often referred to by writers on this subject, of the fluid in 
the closed vessels becoming cloudy or not as a test of the pres- 
ence or absence of bacteriums, is not satisfactory; I have con- 
stantly predicted, from the cloudiness or clearness of an infusion, 
the presence or absence of bacteriums, and very frequently been 
mistaken—quite as often too in the former case as in the latter. 
As to the conclusions which can be drawn from these exper 
ments, I need say very few words. I can now have no doubt 
of the fact that “bacteriums”’ can be produced in hermetically- 
sealed vessels containing an infusion of organic matter, whether 
animal or vegetable, though supplied only with air passe 
through a red-hot tube with all necessary precautions for ensur- 
ing the thorough heating of every portion of it, and thoug 
the infusion itself be thoroughly boiled. But how far this fact 
affects the question of what is called “spontaneous generation 
is quite another matter. 
