Dr. J, Wyman — Experiments on Infusoria. 85 



found to contain Vibrios and Bacteriums, some of tliem moving 

 with great rapidity. 



Exp. XXXV. (3.) The same as the preceding, and boiled in 

 Papin's digester 10' and under the pressure of 5 atmospheres. 

 No film was formed. The flask was opened on the 41st day. 

 Monads and Vibrios were found, some of the latter moving across 

 the field. No putrefaction ; the solution had an alkaline taste. 



Exp. XXXVI. (3.) March 28th. Beef juice was filtered and 

 boiled, as in the preceding experiment, 15', under 2 atmos- 

 pheres. Opened on the 41st day, and no evidence of life was 

 found. When the end of the flawk was heated, previously to 

 opening, it collapsed. 



Exp. XXXVII. (3.) March 28th. The same as the preceding; 

 boiled 15', under 5 atmospheres. Opened on the 41st day, and 

 no evidence of life was detected. 



We have here a series of thirty-three experiments, prepared in 

 different ways, in which solutions of organic matter, some of 

 them previously filtered, have been boiled at the ordinary 

 pressure of the atmosphere for a length of time, varying from 15 

 minutes to 2 hours, and exposed to air purified by heat. In 

 four instances, viz., in Expts. iv, v, viii, x, the contents of the 

 flasks were unchanged at the time they were opened; but in all 

 of the rest, Bacteriums, Vibrios, or other organisms appeared, 

 in nearly every instance their presence was indicated, in the 

 early stage of the experiments, bv the formation of a film, which 

 took place in some on the 2d, and in others not until the 19th 

 ^ay, and was afterwards proved by a careful examination with 

 the microscope. Prof Asa Gray witnessed the opening of some 

 01 these flasks, and satisfied himself of the presence of Infusoria 

 m the contents. Vibrios, Bacteriums and Spirillums were the 

 most frequently found, and in addition to these, as in Expts. 

 ^' XI, xii, xxix, xxxi, xxxii, xxxiii, either ferment cells, monads, 

 or Kolpoda-like bodies were seen, some of them having ciliary 

 movements. Those forms which were observed the most fre- 

 quently are among the lowest, if not the lowest of all known or- 

 ganisms. 



In many instances, a solution like that in the sealed flasks, and 

 ooiled for the same length of time, was exposed to the ordinary 

 ^^^ of the room, in an^open flask. Although the same forms 

 ^^ere found in the two, they apoeared much more rapidly in the 

 open than in closed vessels, ani the contents of the former soon 

 oecame putrid, while those of the others, at the time of opening, 

 ^^{|. "mostly not, and in a few instances only slightly so. 



VVe have, in addition, four experiments, viz., xxxiv, xxxv, 

 *xxvi^ xxxvii, made under increased pressure, and sealed by the 

 J^ird method ; xxxiv and xxxvi were boiled 5' and 10' respect- 

 ^^^y' ^nder 2 atmospheres, and xxxv and xxxvii, under 5 at- 

 mospheres for 10' and 15' respectively. Evidence of life, coo- 



