152 J. Wyman on living organisms in heated water. 
Art. XV.— Observations and Haperiments on living Organisms in , 
heated water; by JEFFRIES WYMAN, M.D., Hersey Professor 
of Anatomy in Harvard College. © 
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germs of them, supposed to be contained in the fluid experi 
mented with, or the air included in the flasks; or 2d, to the 
direct transformation of organic matter into new living beings, 
independently of any germs or living organisms whatever; oF 
in other words to ‘‘ spontaneous generation.” 
Abundant proof has been brought forward to show that the 
spores or germs of infusoria exist in the air in quantities ampiy 
sufficient to account for the presence of living organisms in sol” 
tions freely exposed. me 3 
There can therefore be no certainty of the existence of spol’ 
taneous generation in a given solution, until it can be showa, | 
that this has been freed of all living organisms which it com- 
tained at the beginning of the experiment, and kept free of all 
such from without during the progress of it. On the other hand, 
this kind of generation becomes probable, whenever it is ma@ 
certain that Infusoria do appear in solutions, in which the ¢ 
ditions just mentioned have been complied with. a 
We say probable, because their appearance under such ¢il- 
cumstances would not amount to a proof. The absolu 
- 
solutions _of organic matter, independently of spores 
the question may be fairly raised whether we do not 
e issue between the 
doctrine, clearly turns on the extent to which it can be 
that living beings resist the action of water at a high 
ature, or on what Pouchet call, . at : 
: “ vital 
agent for the destruct ion of infus rial 
Ol 
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aning of experiment, oe och 
