1872.] Dr. F. Crace-Calvert on Prevention of Putrefaction. 187 



and each part acquires an independent existence. These parts again 

 divide, and the process of subdivision is carried on until they appear to be 

 nothing more than cells, which have a swimming-power so great as to pass 

 over the field of the microscope with rapidity. 



After twelve or eighteen months all the vibrios disappear and are re- 

 placed by microzyms, either in motion or at rest. If these microzyms are 

 placed in a solution of fresh albumen, vibrios are abundantly developed. 

 The apparent explanation of this fact is that in the fresh albumen they 

 have all the circumstances favourable to their growth and reproduction, 

 while the putrid albumen has become so completely modified as to be in- 

 capable of affording them the requisite conditions for reproduction. 



I may also notice that at the same time a deposit has taken place which, 

 under the microscope, appears to consist of shoals of small particles of 

 matter which have no life. The solution has now become perfectly clear, 

 possesses considerable refractive power, and has lost the property of becom- 

 ing coagulated by heat. 



The albumen solution does not emit a putrid odour until after the for- 

 mation of the above-mentioned deposit, and the amount of odour is in direct 

 ratio to the number of vibrios present. 



I remarked during the investigation the presence of several other forms 

 of animalcules which contribute to the decomposition and putrefaction of 

 proteine substances, the description of which will be found in the original 

 memoir. 



II. "On the Relative Power of Various Substances in preventing 

 Putrefaction and the Development of Protoplasmic and Fungus- 

 Life." By Dr. F. Crace-Calyert, F.R.S. Received February 

 22, 1872. 



(Abstract.) 



To carry out this series of experiments, small test-tubes were thoroughly 

 cleansed, and heated to dull redness. Into each was placed 26 grammes of 

 a solution of albumen containing one part of white of egg to four parts of 

 pure distilled water, prepared as described in my paper on protoplasmic 

 life. To this was added one thousandth, or -020 gramme, of each of the 

 substances the action of which I desired to study. 



The reasons why I employed one part in a thousand are two-fold. First, 

 the employment of larger proportions would, in some instances, have coagu- 

 lated the albumen ; secondly, it would have increased the difficulty of ob- 

 serving the relative powers of the most efficacious antiseptics in preventing 

 the development of the germs of putrefaction or decay. 



A drop was taken from each of the tubes, and examined under a micro- 

 scope having a magnifying-power of 800 diameters. This operation was 

 repeated daily with the contents of each tube for thirty-nine days, and from 



