Monthly Microscopical"] 
Journal, March 1, 1869.J 
( 181 ) 
NEW BOOKS, WITH SHOET NOTICES. 
L'Origine de la Vie, par leDocteur Georges Pennetier, ouvrage illustre 
de nombreuses vignettes siir bois, avec ime Preface par le Dr. F. 
A. Poiichet. 3rd edition. Paris, J. Rothscbild, 1868. — At the 
present moment, wben the question of spontaneous generation is 
to some extent a problem, receiving the grave attention of many 
of our best microscopists, a work like that of M. Pennetier's is 
of considerable service ; for we doubt not there are many among 
our readers who are unfamiliar with the evidence which the 
advocates and opponents of Heterogeny have brought forward. 
M. Pennetier is himself a very distinguished explorer in the field 
of research; and as his work has been revised and prefaced by no 
less a person than the great champion of Heterogeny, M. Pouchet, 
it merits a careful examination. Those who have read Professor 
Hughes Bennett's article * " On the Molecular Origin of Infusoria," 
are aware that the dicta of M. Pasteur, which have held almost 
universal sway over the minds of English savans, are by no means 
so well based in reason as people are generally led to suppose. As 
the work before us, therefore, gives a very lucid and comprehensive 
account of the whole subject, it may not be out of place to lay a 
few of its details before our English workers. 
The preface, by M. Pouchet, is cleverly written, but abounds 
in generalities which are to some extent foreign to the question, 
whether life-forms can be generated spontaneously by the fer- 
mentation of organic matter. It is chiefly remarkable as a severe 
diatribe against M. Pasteur and some other members of the French 
Academy. The book itself comprises thirteen chapters, which 
treat consecutively of the various branches of the great contro- 
versy. The titles of these chapters give a clue to their contents, 
and are as follov/s : — Introduction ; Microscopic Life ; History of 
Spontaneous Generation ; Conditions of Spontaneous Heterogenic 
Genesis ; Formation and Development of the Spontaneous Ovule ; 
It is not Derived from the Atmosphere; The pretended Incom- 
bustibles ; Demonstrations in the Open Air ; Demonstrations in 
Charcoal Vessels ; Development of Yeast ; Mutations of Matter ; 
Bibliography. 
Some of these chapters contain very old material, but a few of 
them embrace a good summary of the published investigations of the 
last five years, and of papers which are scattered through different 
foreign journals and 'Transactions.' The chapter on the develop- 
ment of yeast — a point which is even yet not quite cleared up — 
strikes us as being very good ; and it certainly records some very 
remarkable experiments in proof of the author s opinion. The 
following passage is an example : — " To prove that the molecules 
(grains) of yeast are not derived from the atmosphere, and to 
* ' Popular Science Keview,' January, 1869. 
