COXDITIOXS FATOUEING FEEMENTATION. 



71 



cite the other investigators who had previously obtained similar 

 results. This side of the question has, in fact, been so thoroughly 

 settled by my experiments, and the numerous confirmations which 

 they have received at the liands of otliers, that it would be waste of 

 space for me now to dwell further upon tliis part of the subject. 



It mus;t be obvious that what we need at present is all the definite 

 evidence that can be obtained as to the thermal death-point, and 

 as to the ])owers of resistance under different conditions, of 

 ferment-organisms and their germs. Thus ii is that I now re- 

 strict my remarks almost wholly to investigations bearing directly 

 or indirectly upon this section of the subject. 



Twelve months later, we find Prof. Tyndall* announcing that 

 he was then able to obtain the previously denied results. The 

 beliaviour of his recent infusions had completely stultified his 

 previous position. He was no longer at issue wdth me and 

 others in regard to the fact. The difference between us was now 

 one of interpretation only. In spite of his previously much- 

 vaunted 500 negative results, and the good evidence which they 

 supplied as to the death-point of Bacteria and their germs. Prof. 

 Tyndall now endeavoured, as best as he could, to cover his previous 

 unfortunate position. The result was a complete change of 

 front. 



During all his earlier experiments, though operating in the midst 

 of London in an air which he had himself not lightly stigmatized, 

 in many trials with all sorts of fluids, he had not come across a single 

 germ which could survive the influence of boiling water for a few 

 minutes. Desiccation of germs, according to Prof. Tyndall's ex- 

 perience at this time, would seem to have been a phenomenon of 

 the rarest occurrence ; germs capable of resisting a short boiling 

 must have been almost, if not quite, unknown. 



But no magician with his wand ever wrought a more complete 

 change than did Prof. Tyndall by introducing a bundle of " old 

 hay " into his laboratory. Henceforth there was evidence offer- 

 mentation in boiled fluids without stint, desiccated germs were 

 everywhere — germs capable of resisting even two, three, four, and 

 more hours of boiling everywhere surrounded him and got into 

 his infusions. 



These, at least, are the hypotheses by which Prof. Tyndall en- 

 deavoured to reconcile his earlier with his later results. But two 

 things strike one as very unsatisfactory in regard to them ajid 

 * Brit. Med. Journ., Jan. 27, 1877, p. 95. 



