On the relative powers of various substances in preventing the generation of animalcule or the development of their germs : with special reference to the germ theory of putrefaction / by John Dougall.

  • Dougall, John.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the relative powers of various substances in preventing the generation of animalcule or the development of their germs : with special reference to the germ theory of putrefaction / by John Dougall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ON THE RELATIVE POWERS OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES IN PEEVENTING THE GENEKATION OF ANIMALCULE OK THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR GERMS. The words generation and development are here used so as to embrace the two opposite views held by the Panspermatists and the hionpanspermatists; or, to employ the terms adopted by Profes- sor Huxley last year, the words are meant to embrace the two conflicting theories of Biogenisis and of Abiogenisis ; the Pansper- matists, or Biogenists, believing that all life is derived from pre-existing life—“ omne vivum ex while the Nonpansjier- matists, or Abiogenists, hold that certain combinations of dead matter are capable, in favourable circumstances, of originating many of those functions which are termed vital. In other words, they assert that spontaneous generation is not only possible but demonstrable. It is not fairly within the scope of my subject to discuss the question at issue, nor does it appear that any modifications are required in the brilliant array of facts which Professor Huxley marshalled last year in defence of Biogenisis, nor that any serious doubts have been entertained regarding the accuracy of the very interesting and apparently practically exhaustive experiments of Dr. C. Bastian, which seem to prove Abiogenisis. My object was not to inquire whether those amazingly minute animated specks, called in general terms Animalculse, are generated or developed, but how their propagation could be retarded or altogether prevented. As certain substances are inimical to the existence of the higher