73 
ilie examination of the cotton through which Mr. Crookes 
had passed the air, nor the glycerine surfaces exposed to 
the air of cowhouses, which also was done by Mr. Crookes. 
My object at present is not to give a history, but a few of 
the prominent points so far as relates solely to my own 
part. 
These experiments were repeated on air in Manchester. 
A paper was read on the 30th March, 1868, to the Lit. 
and Phil. Society, Manchester. Dr. Scliunck in the Chair. 
To quote a part — 
“ Lately I tried the same plan on a larger scale. A bottle 
of the capacity of 4'990e.c. was filled with air and shaken 
with water. The bottle was again filled and shaken with 
the same water, and this was repeated 500 times, nearly 
equal to 2J millions cb.c., or 2*495 litres. As this could not 
be done in a short time, there was considerable variety of 
weather, but chiefly dry with a westerly wind. The ope- 
ration was conducted behind my laboratory, in the neigh- 
bourhood of places not very clear, it is true, but from 
which the wind was blowing to ?J1 parts of the town. I 
did not observe any dust blowing, but if there were dust, it 
was such as we may be called on to breathe. The liquid 
was clouded, and the unaided eye could perceive that par- 
ticles very light were floating. When examined by a 
microscope the scene was varied in a very high degree — 
there was evidently organic life. I thought it better to 
carry the whole to Mr. Dancer, and to leave him to do the 
rest, as my knowledge of microscopic forms is so trifling 
compared to his.” 
Having for years therefore convinced myself of these 
results, I took the air washings to Mr. Dancer, of Manches- 
ter, whose experience in microscopic objects is so great that 
I was certain to be corrected if I erred, and if I did not 
err I should be taught more. His examination is very 
beautiful, and it shews not only organic substances, but very 
