1908.| Agents in the Oxidation of Amorphous Carbon. 255 
in accordance with my own experiments, which show that while the amount 
of COz produced increases with a rise of temperature, CO is not given off at 
the supra-vital temperature of 100° C., nor under other conditions which 
prevent the growth of bacteria. 
In this preliminary note it is not clear what means Stoklasa employed for 
sterilisation. If he trusted to corrosive sublimate, the acid reaction 
commonly found in this salt would have to be taken into account as a 
source of. COz in the presence of any carbonates, as well as other causes 
affecting its reliability. In some previous experiments Stoklasa(12) himself 
notes that, notwithstanding all care, active bacteria appeared on the roots 
of sugar beet which had been steeped for 25 minutes in a ()'5-per-cent. 
solution of mercuric chloride, and this he attributes to the possible intro- 
duction of these organisms in a stream of vapour passed through the 
apparatus. It seems more probable, as I have proved, that the bacteria 
flourished in spite of the treatment with mercuric chloride. 
Further, Stoklasa does not state whether he re-calcined the charcoal. 
During re-calcination, various gases are given off, and microscopic examina- 
tion shows that the cell-wall in ordinary charcoal is often incompletely 
charred. Thus the combined carbon in ordinary charcoal would be readily 
attacked by micro-organisms, and on this account the evolution of CQ, is 
much greater from uncalcined charcoal than after reheating to about 1200° C. 
If the oxidation of carbon takes place through the action of an enzyme, 
this naturally assumes the presence of a living cell, or, in other words, the 
oxidation is due, primarily, to bacteria. 
General Conclusions. 
The methods of experiment which have been dealt with attack the problem 
from totally different standpoints, and the accumulated evidence affords 
convincing proof that amorphous carbon slowly undergoes oxidation through 
the agency of bacteria. 
The dependence on antiseptics is shown to be very treacherous, but it is clear 
that when complete sterilisation is secured by discontinuous boiling, there is no 
production of COs. The results obtained by the experiments with the varying 
degrees of temperature and under the dry conditions are also of critical 
importance and establish beyond question my contention that the amounts 
of COz given off are really due to bacterial activity, and not to any chemical 
action in the coal or charcoal. If the evolution of CO, had proceeded 
steadily beyond the supra-vital temperature, it would have pointed to a non- 
vital change, but the fall of CO. at the death point clearly indicated thecessation 
of a vital process. 
