REVIEWS. 
95 
and lie has added a number of illustrations — more than 60 — which give 
more interest to the volume. The greater part of the volume is familiar 
enough, but the latter part is of peculiar interest, because it contains an 
ample and clear account of M. Pasteur’s experiments on air and fungus- 
spores, &c. ; and it shows the error of Dr. Bastian’s processes, though in some 
cases there is rather too much of opposition displayed to leave the reader per- 
fectly satisfied on this point. The concluding observations which the author 
makes on the subjects of putrefaction and decay are full of interest, and 
might we think with advantage have been much extended. The truth is shown 
of Pasteur’s saying, that “ Fermentation, putrefaction, and slow combustion 
are the three natural phenomena which concur in the grand operation of the 
destruction of organised matter, a necessary condition of the perpetuity of 
life on the earth’s surface.” 
THE UNIVERSE.* 
I N speaking of this splendid work as it appeared in its first edition we 
gave the highest praise to the author for the ability displayed in carrying 
out his scheme, and to the publishers for the lavishness of illustrations with 
which they presented the volume to the public. In noticing the present 
edition — the third — we have little more to do than to say that it is issued 
at a much cheaper rate of sale than its predecessors, while it has not suffered 
any serious loss by the omission of a few of the illustrations and of the notes 
which characterised the earlier issue. It is almost needless to tell the 
English reader that M. Pouchet — the great supporter of the doctrine of 
Spontaneous Generation in France — was one of the first naturalists of the 
day, and he has therefore given us a book which is an unquestionably admi- 
rable introduction to the study of natural history as a whole. As he says in 
the preface, “I have gleaned everywhere to show that Nature affords matter 
for interesting observations. The animal and the vegetable worlds, the earth 
and the heavens, appear by turns upon the scene.” Indeed, there could be 
no better description of the work. It treats of Nature as a whole, and in 
the most fascinating style — well sustained in the translation — the author has 
told us the history of the animal and vegetable worlds in the present and in 
the past, and has added some observations on the sidereal or starry system, 
which, though small in their extent, are nevertheless of importance. Truly, 
too, the artistic portion of the work has been placed in the most reliable 
hands. 
* “The Universe; or, the Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little.” .By 
F. II. Pouchet, M.D., Member of the Institute of France. Third Edition. 
London: Blackie & Co. London, 1876. 
