Biogenesis as exhibited in decomposition, putrefaction, or decay.

  • Bell, Robert, 1845-1926.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Biogenesis as exhibited in decomposition, putrefaction, or decay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    experiment may be narrated—that the cells of the bioplasm were much more perfect in form, and more often nucleated, where the carbolic fumes were less strong. Two weeks after decomposition had commenced, I again examined what had been the pieces of beef, for then they were all reduced to pulp, but no life could be detected, the gases emitted from the cells having destroyed their own life. This, however, I can hardly think would have taken place had the decomposing matter been in free communication with the atmosphere, as the foul gases would then have been carried off; but being pent up in the bottles, they seem to have acted as a poison to the bioplasm. Another experiment illustrates in a most beautiful manner how a disinfectant influences the growth and development of life. A number of similar bottles as those employed in the last experiment were used, and in each a piece of fresh beef was placed. Into the stoppers of two or three of them lint saturated with water was adapted; into the remaining ones lint saturated with various solutions of carbolic acid. Then, on the top of each piece of beef a few freshly laid eggs of the blow fly were deposited, and here, just as in the case of the seeds, life first shewed itself in the bottles containing no car- bolic vapour, and the time of the hatcliing of the remainder was prolonged in exact ratio as the strength of the carbolic acid increased. In this experiment a discovery which I thought I had made a short time ago seemed to be verified, to illustrate which I will quote almost verbatim from my note-book:—On August 15th, three days after the eggs were laid, those in the bottles containing the vapour from the 40 grs. and 50 gTs. of carbolic acid solution have life developed, but there is no appearance of it in the 60 gr. bottle. I have often on previous occasions noticed a great difference in size take place in these larvae in twenty-fours, but not so in this instance, as those first hatched are unchanged in size from yesterday morning. Is it the carbolic vapour which stunts their growth? No; because I have observed that freshly