ON VINOUS FERMENTATION. 
47 
so that a cubic millimetre of yeast probably contains at least 
a million of these globules. 
Presuming that the globules of the yeast should have the 
power of reproduction, I made several experiments to deter- 
mine this point. The first, which were attempted on a small 
scale, failed, but this was not the case with two others which 
I made, one upon about ten heteroclites of the must of porter, 
which the kindness of M. Leperdriel afforded me the 
means, and the other upon a smaller quantity of the same 
must. 
The results to which these trials have led, are : 1, that the 
globules of ferment, in consequence of the disengagement of 
gas which they cause, are carried to the surface, and that many 
of these globules remain entangled in the abundant froth pro- 
duced by the fermentation; in which froth they may be 
readily distinguished by the microscope, by means of the 
brilliancy by which they are characterized; and 2, that the 
globules during their action upon the must of beer diminish 
in size, and by this contraction throw out seed or reproductive 
bodies, since new globules are soon perceived in the must, 
but with a faint or less visible appearance, although sufficiently 
large. The globules*, which were not before visible, possess this 
peculiarity; they appear to have the power of reproduction, 
by buds or prolongations of their proper tissue, and thus to 
form connected globules, sometimes two, three, or even a 
greater number united together; a fact which seems to confirm 
my supposition, that the globules of yeast are organized and 
belong to the vegetable kingdom. 
Considering it as very remarkable, that the globules of 
ferment should be deprived of the power of regeneration by 
the extension of their tissue, while younger individuals re- 
tained this faculty, I inquired of M. Turpin, whether he knew 
of any other microscopic bodies composed of isolated globules 
possessing analogous properties; by his answer it appeared 
that my observation was new. 
Having examined with attention specimens of porter every 
hour, immediately on being drawn, from the vat, I perceived 
