CONDITIONS FAVOUBINQ FERMENTATION. 



51 



show that the induction of this same distinguished investigator as 

 to the invariable barrenness of neutral liquids after they have 

 been heated to 110° C, is also one which is overthrown by a wider 

 circle of facts. By having resort to a simple physical agency 

 (viz. a higher incubating-temperature than that which M. Pasteur 

 formerly made use of), it can be easily shown that many properly 

 prepared fluids may be made to ferment after they have been ex- 

 posed even to 110° C. and upwards. 



This final evidence is, of course, not strictly needed for the over- 

 throw of the foundations on which M. Pasteur based his germ 

 theory, what has already been brought forward concerning the 

 fertility of boiled acid fluids, and the cause of the fertility of 

 boiled neutral fluids, being of itself abundantly suflScient. 



This evidence, which I have already given as to the cause of the 

 fertility of boiled neutral fluids also goes far to undermine the 

 foundations of the belief of other investigators as to the " survival 

 of germs " in any previously boiled fluids. These beliefs all take 

 their origin either from Pasteur's supposed proof of such a pheno- 

 menon, or from facts of a similar order to that by which he was 

 supposed to have demonstrated it. The process is essentially 

 this, and it has been often repeated: — 1st, a deeply rooted 

 conviction that living matter cannot arise de novo-, 2nd, the 

 flnding of living matter in fluids which have been boiled or 

 further superheated. Such a combination of fact and conviction 

 leads to the facile conclusion that germs have survived the boiling, 

 quite irrespective of the duration of the exposure. And simi- 

 larly, the above-mentioned conviction continuing to be firmly 

 rooted, the finding of living organisms in guarded fluids which 

 have been heated to 230° P. may be immediately explained in 

 the same way : " survival of germs " will be again the verdict, 

 in spite of previous statements to the contrary, and indepen- 

 dently of all evidence. Is fertility attained again, after another; 

 alleged death-point has been passed ? Do fluids whi(:'^ haxe 

 been heated to 248° P. ferment ? Pirst the facts are 'denied- and 

 when these are established, again comes the caupj^^^ggg revoca- 

 tioD of previous beliefs and the old cry " survival q£ germs." 



To those who are wholly inspired by the cc^^^iction that a 

 de novo origin of living matter is impossible, tht^ following state- 

 ments of experimental results will doubtless cr^j.^.^ ^^^j^ them no 

 significance, other than that above indicated.^ g^^y f^j. ^\^q g^i^e 

 of those who are not so imbued, it will be wortij^ y^\^{\Q to cite them. 



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