1872.] 



Evolution of Life from Lifeless Matter. 



151 



vibriones and some excessively small bodies, all in rapid motion. An im- 

 mense number of minute bodies, 0*000025 in length, consisting of two 

 cells, which are believed to be Torula in an early stage, besides one or two 

 full-sized Torula-ceWs, were noticed. On July 21st an immense quantity of 

 Torula and some fibrous growth, most probably fungus or conferva, ap- 

 peared in addition to the other minute organisms. The liquid was boiled 

 violently for a few minutes, but not longer, as the liquid frothed much. 

 The vibriones remained as lively as ever. 



No. 2. Examined August 1st. Nothing observed ; liquid unchanged. 

 August 22nd the liquid had evaporated to some extent. A thick coating 

 of Mucor* and Torula covered the syrupy solution. Kept seventeen days 

 without alteration ; total time exposed to air more than five weeks. 



No. 3. Opened August 24th. On August 27th the liquid was observed 

 to have a very slight sediment ; later on a downy growth was observed ad- 

 hering to the side of the flask. On the following day, August 28th, the 

 liquid, which had become very turbid, was examined. It contained im- 

 mense quantities of the undeveloped Torula. None of these bodies were 

 seen to move. Reexamined September 1st; the tuft of down proved to 

 be conferva. On September 4th the liquid was a mass of Torula. The con- 

 fervoid growth had increased very little ; there was a quantity of proto- 

 plasmic, perhaps germinal, matter distributed through the liquid, which 

 was invisible in many parts until stained with carmine. 



E". No. 1. On August 28th, after three days' exposure to air, some 

 specks of white matter were noticed adhering to the sides of the little 

 beaker-glass in which the liquid was placed. On removing and examining 

 them with the microscope, they seemed to consist of spores of fungi ger- 

 minating. 



No. 2. Examined July 29th, 1871. Exposed to the air ten days. A 

 small mass, like a tuft of down, was observed with the unaided eye ; it proved 

 ..to be a collection of mycelium-filaments, and Mucor with fructification. 

 Reexamined August 22nd. A mass of green conferva covered the liquid, 

 and both Torula and Mucor were present. 



F". No. 2. This liquid was examined on September 2nd, 1871, after barely 

 four days' exposure to the air. There were many bodies such as I have 

 described as undeveloped Torula (Exp. D", No. 1). On September 4th 

 there were many sarcinae to be seen, besides vibriones and other very 

 minute bodies, in the greatest state of activity. Some of them seemed to 

 attach themselves by one end to a point, and swing themselves round and 

 round at a great speed ; they did not measure more than 00005 inch in 

 length. There were seen some "figure-of-eight" particles in rapid motion ; 

 they differed from the minute Torulce by being less oval in form, and capable 

 of moving rapidly. 



No. 3. The quantity of liquid was very small. On August 23rd it had 

 become very turbid ; instead of examining it with the microscope, an addi- 

 * Well represented by fig. 12, a, p. 197, 'Nature,' vol. ii. 



VOL. XX. N 



