Prof. Payen on Spontaneous Generation. 405 
and the liquid of the two infusions; and then the tubes were 
allowed to cool and left to themselves, care being taken to ex- 
amine the contents from time to time. After some days, I found 
animaleules in the tube which remained open to the atmosphere, 
but not a single one in that which had been hermetically sealed. 
Thave been accustomed to cite these experiments in my lec- 
tures, but had not thought of bringing them before the Academy, 
because negative results acquire importance only when they have 
been obtained constantly in a large number of trials, and also 
tan 
multiplication of animalcules. 
n hypothesis which is not necessary in order to understand 
the phenomena made known by observations, and which is in fla- 
grant discordance with all that analogy teaches us, seems to have 
tonight to a place in science. It may be that chemistry will be 
éble to make all the kinds of substances which occur in the con- 
stitution of living bodies; but as to the genesis of living organ- 
Sms without the concurrence of vital force, I see no reason for 
‘elieving it. Until more amply instructed, I shall therefore con- 
tinue to think that in the animal kingdom there is no such thing 
8 spontaneous generation, and that all animals, large and small, 
are subject to the same law, and can exist only when they have 
been generated by living beings. 
2. Remarks on the same occasion, by Mr. PAYEN, Professor in the 
_ Conservatoire Imperial des Arts et Metiers. 
1€ time in 1848, there occurred an alteration of the bread 
eis bya rapid growth of cryptogamic vegetation ; and after 
“ing determined in connection with Mr. Mirbel the cause of the 
phenomenon, which had produced some excited dissatisfaction 
PA hes the sporules of the Oidium aurantiacum lost their ger- 
ve power. 
Ae 13° F.) in a tube inserted in an oil-bath. A part 
tire then withdrawn and exposed in the proper circumstances 
ocrowth ; and germination took place. ‘The remainder of the 
went > Were then heated to 120° C.; and they neither under- 
Fina change of color nor lost their poet of germination. 
“ally, they were heated to 140° C., when their appearance 
