510 Chronicles of Science. [July, 



sealed vessels containing an infusion of organic matter, whether 

 animal or vegetahle, though supplied only with air which has passed 

 through a red-hot tube, and though the infusion be thoroughly boiled. 

 The germs of bacterium must therefore be either capable of resist- 

 ing the boiling temperature of a fluid, or they are spontaneously gene- 

 rated, or they are not organisms at all. With regard to the latter 

 conclusion, although favourable to it at one time, Dr. Child is now 

 convinced that they are really minute vegetable forms. If, how- 

 ever, it be true that germs are capable of resisting the boiling tem- 

 perature of fluid, then both parties in the controversy are working on 

 a false principle, and neither M. Pouchet nor M. Pasteur is likely at 

 present to solve the question of spontaneous generation. In truth, if 

 M. Pasteur's facts are incorrect, the whole question is relegated to 

 the domain of what the French Academy Commission calls " pure dis- 

 cussion," and the one point which Dr. Child claims to have esta- 

 blished is precisely that M. Pasteur's facts are inexact ; not because 

 his experiments were not most admirably performed, but simply be- 

 cause the magnifying power of his microscope was insufficient for the 

 work to which he applied it. Dr. Child evidently leans to the doc- 

 trine of spontaneous generation, and remarks, that the objection, that 

 in exact proportion as our observation of the higher forms of life 

 becomes more exact, we are gradually driven from them to take refuge 

 in the lower forms which we are almost or altogether unable to observe, 

 has little force, since it might be expected that if any forms are gene- 

 rated spontaneously, they will be the very simplest and earliest in the 

 scale of existence, which would be produced under the disadvantageous 

 circumstances in which they must be placed. Dr. Child speaks highly 

 of Powell and Lealand's fiftieth objective, which, he says, has already 

 shown something like an appearance of structure in these minute bac- 

 teria, which leaves no doubt about their organic character. 



A new periodical of much promise has just appeared in German, 

 called ' Archives of Microscopic Anatomy,' conducted by Max Schultze, 

 of Bonn, and published by Max Cohen and Son of that town. It is 

 to be a quarterly journal, illustrated with about thirty plates annually, 

 and each part will cost two thalers subscription. The contents will 

 be original papers upon the Microscopic Anatomy of Man, Animals, 

 and Plants, both Physiological and Pathological, as well as informa- 

 tion upon the Microscope itself, and whatever relates thereto. 



Professor Agassiz and a party have left New York on the way to 

 South America, on an exploring expedition. His chief object is to 

 make extensive collections in Zoology, and observations in other 

 natural sciences. The expenses of the trip will be defrayed by Mr. 

 Thayer, of Boston, who has most liberally placed his funds at the dis- 

 cretion of the Harvard professor ; while the preparations, purchase of 

 instruments, &c, have been at the expense of the Massachusetts 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology, which is to receive the specimens 

 brought home. Very important and interesting results are expected 

 from this expedition, which will probably be absent at least a year. 



Mr. K. B. N. Walker, a long resident on the Gaboon, whence he 

 lately brought a remarkable collection of gorilla skins and skeletons, 



