Page 275

V1 TURE
ofconditct in- the aflairs and guarding the interests of the State."
\\ould that all ministers would realise and act upon the g-reat
truth, so clearly and pithily expressed.  Mr. Ellery contributees
monthly a verv valuable and interesting set of " A\stronomical
Notes,' in which he giv es all the details in a tabular form neces-
sary to find out the positions, on the first of each month, of the
planets, nebula, clusters, and double and other peculiar stars.
W\ e hope the journal w ill have all the success it well deserves.
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES
                 LONDON
* Royal Society, Jan. 30.-Prof. George 13usk, vice-president,
in the chair.  The following communications were read -
- Note on the Origin of Bacteria, and on their Relation to the
Process of Putrefaction."  By Dr. IH. Charlton Bastian, F.R.S.
  In his now celebrated memoir of iS62, M. Pasteur asserted
and claimed to have proved (I) that the putrefaction occurring
in certain previously boiled fluids after exposure to the air was
due to the contamination of the fluids by Bacteria, or their
germs, which had before existed in the atmosphere; and
(2) that all the organisms found in such fluids have been
derived more or less immediately from the reproduction of
germs which formerly existed in the atmosphere.
   The results of a long series of experiments have convinced me
 that both these views are untenable.
   In the first place, it can be easily shown that living Bactei-a,
 or their germs, exist very sparingly in the atmosphere, and that
 solutions capable of putrefying are not commonly infected from
 this source.
   It has now been very definitely ascertained that certain fluids
exist which, after they have been boiled, are incapable of giving
birth to Bacteria, although they continue to be quite suitable for
the support and active multiplication of any such organisms as
may have been purposely added to them. Amongst suc i fluids
I may name that now commonly known as " Pasteur's solution,"
and also one which I have myself more commonly used, con-
sisting of a simple aqueous solution of neutral ammonic tartrate
and neutral sodic sulphate.*  When portions of either of these
fluids are boiled and poured into superheated flasks, they will
continue quite clear for many days, or even for weeks-that is
to say, although the short and rather narrow neck of the flask
remains open the fluids will not become turbid, and no Bacteria
are to be discovered when they are submitted to microsco-
pical examination.
  But in order to show that such fluids are still thoroughly
favourable media for the multiplication of Bacteria, all that is
necessary is to bring either of them into contact with a glass
rod previously dipped into a fluid containing such organisms.
In about thirty-six hours after this has been done (the tempera-
ture being about 800 F.), the fluid, which had hitherto remained
clear, becomes quite turbid, and is found, on examination with
the microscope, to be swarming with Bacteria-t
  Facts of the same kind have also been shown by Dr. Burdon
Sanderson  to hold good for portions of boiled " Pasteur's
solution." Air was even drawn through such a fluid daily for a
time, and yet it continued free from Bacteria.
  Evidence of this kind has already been widely accepted as
justifying the conclusion that living Bacleria or their germs are
either wholly absent from, or, at most, only very sparingly
distributed thrniich th. Itah   r   k. Thfl( 1tA  ;f;
from the atmosphere having thus been got rid of and shown to
be delusive, I am now able to bring forward other evidence
tending to show that the first Bacteria which appear in many
boiled infusions (when they subsequently undergo putrefactive
changes) are evolved de novo in the fluids themselves. These
experiments are moreover so simple, and may be so easily
repeated, that the evidence which they are capable of supplying
lies within the reach of all.
  That boiling the experimental fluid destroys the life of any
Bacteria or Barceria germs pre-existing therein is now almost uni-
versally admitted. It may m jreover be easily deemonstratc(l.
If a portion of " Pasteur's solution" be purposely infected with
boiled iacteria and subsequently boiled for two or three minute>, it
will continue (if left in the same flask) clear for an indefinite
'A In the proportion of 2o grains of the fornicmerind 3 of the latter to
I oulnc
of di4lillel water.
1Ithef\1Ic,ofl (i W'' ofL owe,,Lr iriil t,,, 1 '71, PPen  ,
I Thirteenth Report M thec AcclictA ( )Ificer it tie hi ivy ( ouncil L1871),
P. 59.
275
period  ; whilst a similarly infected portion of the same fl;;,l, nt
suI)s(julently boiled, will rapidly become tuix ¾id. 1'rcc'( lv
similar phenomena occur when we operate with the neutral fluid
which I have previously  mentioned ; and yet Al. P'aslur 1 as
ventured to assert that the germns of 8acteria are not d( st rroyci in
neutral or slightly alkaline fluids which have been nicrcly raised
to the boiling-point.*
   EIven M. Pasteur, however, admits that the germs of Rara. via
 andl other allied organisms are killed in slightly acid fluids V. lich
 have been boiled for a few minutes ; so that there is a l-)crlf ct
 unanimity of opinion (amongst those best qualified to judlge) as
 to the destructive effects of a heat of 2I2' F  upon any Lacl cria
 or Ba7ctr-ia7 germs which such fluids may contain.
   Taking such a fluid, therefore, in the form of a strong filtered
 infusion of turnip, we may place it after el)ullition in a sui V-
 heated flask with the assurance that it contains no living orga-
 nisms. Having ascertained also by our previous experiments
 with the boiled saline fluids that there is no danger of infection
 by Bacbteria from  the atmosphere, we may leave the rather
 narrow mouth of the flask open, as wse did in these experiments.
 But when this is done, the previously clear turnip infusion in-
 variably becomes turbid in one or two days (the temperature
 being about 70° F.), owing to the presence of myriads of
 actaeria.
   Tlhus if we take two similar flasks, one of which contans a
boiled " Pasteur's solution," and the other a boiled turnip inru-
sion, and if we place them beneath the same bell-jar, it will be
found that the first fluid remains clear and free from Ba7cc)r-i(' for
an indefinite period, whilst the second invariably becomes turbid
in one or two days.
  What is the explanation of these discordant results ?  \Ve
have a right to infer that all pre-existing life has been destroyed
in each of the fluids; we have proved also that such fluids are
not usually infected by Bacteria derived from the air-in th. is
very case, in fact, the putrescible saline fluid remains pure, al-
though the organic infusion standing by its side rapidly putrifiss.
WVe can only infer, therefore, that whilst the boiled saline soliu-
tion is quite incapable of engendering Bactcriat, such organisms
are able to arise a'c norao in the boiled organic infusion.
  Although this inference may be legitimately drawn from such
experiments as I have referred to, fortunately it is confirmed and
strengthened by the labours of many investigators who have
worked under the influence of much more stringent conditi *ns,
and in which closed vessels of various kinds have been
employed.
  Whilst we may therefore infer (I) that the putrefaction wehiclh
occurs in many previously boiled fluids when exposed to the air
is not due to a contamination by germs derived from  the atn-o-
sphere, we have also the same right to conclude (2) that in many
cases the first organisms which appear in such fluids have arisen
de race, rather than by any process of reproduction from  pre-
existing forms of life.
  Admitting, therefore, that Bacteria are ferments capalelI of
initiating putrefactive change~, I am a firm believer also in the
existence of not-living ferments under the influence of %X'ich
putrefactive changes may be initiated in certain fluids- -cl-an-s
which are almost invariably accompanied by a ne.v bi;th of
living particles capable of rapidly developing into Bacter',-i..
  "On Just Intonation in Music; with a description of a n xv
Instrument for the easy control of all Systems of Tunine -t~l cr
than the ordinary equal Temperament."     Py R.   1. IA
Bosanquet.
  The object of this communication is to place thc improve I
systems of~tuning within the reach of ordinary mn s cians; tor t'n s
purpose the theory and practice are reduced to their simples: h> i.>
A notation is described, adapted to use wvith ordinary writtcn it c.l<,
by which the notes to be performed are clearly ditints ;.
The design of a key-board is described, by which  yI  s ' -e.
of tuning except the ordinary equal temperament. can Ite en-
trllcd, it only the fifths of the system be all etpiila. 'T'lie <;eigai
is on a symmetrical principle, so that all lase' and ccn 'in.'  -
sions of notes are perforimdl with the saine Ii snlin', in w
ever key they occur. The theory ot the cotistliction of :allcs
is then deveh)ped ,awl a dia-r.Inlli is iVenl, froml %wliilc  t e chi:r.
   h)w unwarrantal)le sttch a conc luion appears to le, I l hare eN. ' clr
enu(lc.t'ouurcd  to, show.  s ;e  I 'wigmm nl oi  Life,-.' r - , %,,   i.
pp 1.
    otf 1.1          ol ii. 1j ;1. 'd x,1.ij I.
  1 S eeare, wiltV ,iaicUA  1 .  -I         '' it        \v1. -I'
  Janit.i, y 9.
w~~~ sJ l
Ifl-b. 6. I18731-