404 M. Edwards on Spontaneous Generation. 
temperature sufficient to determine the coagulation of the hy- 
drated albumen in their tissues, we know that this is not always 
so in the case of those which have been previously dried. In 
fact, fifteen years since, Mr. Doyére made known that certain 
animaleules, such as the Zurdigrades,* after being sufficiently 
dried would preserve their vitality for several hours while ex- 
posed in a stove whose temperature is much higher than that 
used by Mr. Pouchet for his flask of hay. I have seen these 
animalcules resist thus the very prolonged action of a stove 
whose temperature stood at 120° Centigrade (248° F.); and in 
the researches of Mr. Doyére, the heat of the ambiant medium 
‘ carried to.140° C. (284° F.) without death ensuing from the 
eat 
complete the precautions employed for protecting the liquids 
ore tha 
should have believed that spontaneous generation had rn 
place under my own eye, had I not, on reflecting on the coadr 
series of experiments in which some infusions, that if exp 
to the air would in all probability have given birth to anim 
cules, afforded none when the imprisoned matters in coh 
i ; ature hig! 
ew to cause the coagulation of the contained albumino! 
substances, | ter 
I placed in two tubes, having the form of test-tubes, the veick 
and the organic matters for the trial. One of these tubes, W a 
was two-thirds filled with air, was then closed by means nls 
lamp, and both this and the other tube were then plunged i 
@ bath of boiling water. The bath was kept in ebu a 
enough to establish an equilibrium between the water 00 
ming “tieth of 
* The Tardi i i animals about a 
ac in length loging toe etaton of eae a ee 
higher in structure than the ordinary Infasoria, 
