62 



DE. BASTIAN ON THE 



the " germ theory " of fermentation and rejected the doctrine of 

 " spontaneous generation," were altogether insufiScient and in 

 great part erroneous — as a wider experience with other materials, 

 new methods, and new experimental conditions has shown. 



So far there seems to me to be no doubt. I have certainly 

 shown the untenability of Pasteur's cardinal positions ; and it 

 was doubt on these points coming to a mind previously unbiassed, 

 save in the direction of his doctrines, which first roused me to 

 action. I found many authorities positively declaring that the 

 question was settled by Pasteur's researches, which were regarded 

 as crucial. If, then, on discovering, from my own work, that his 

 most important positions could by virtue of other evidence be re- 

 versed, what wonder that I was positive in asserting that con- 

 clusions the opposite of Pasteur's were more harmonious with this 

 evidence ? 



Meanwhile, during the seven subsequent years, the question 

 has grown in all directions, and from all sides we have been re- 

 ceiving valuable accessions to our knowledge of the life-history of 

 these lower organisms which are so intimately associated with fer- 

 mentations, and with many diseased processes, not only in plants 

 and lower animals, but in man himself. Thus a vast amount of 

 fresh knowledge has been acquired which is not only of the highest 

 interest and importance to the biologist, to the surgeon, and phy- 

 sician, but also, and this especially through the labours of Pasteur, 

 even to the directors of large manufacturing industries. 



The results of new investigations have shown themselves in mul- 

 titudiuous directions ; but I now propose to draw attention only 

 to some of them, since these particular additions to our know- 

 ledge have to a considerable extent reshaped the questions requi- 

 ring solution before it can either be said by Pasteur that the 

 " germ theoiy " of fermentation is firmly established, or by myself 

 that the present occurrence of " spontaneous generation " is 

 proven so far as it can be proved. 



In the first place, then, it should be said that the distinguished 

 founder of the " germ theory " of fermentation has himself seen 

 cause greatly to modify his doctrines. 



In 1862 M. Pasteur's view was that fermentations were che- 

 mical processes which could only be initiated and carried on under 

 the influence of independent living organisms such as Bacteria, 

 Torulsp, and their allies. In 1872 * he extended this doctrine, 

 * Compt. Eend. rol. Ixxv. p. 784. 



