Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-25
NO. ia.
MIsCELLANE0Us READING.

LIVING ORGANISM IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
That the air We breathe teens with myr-
lads of living creatures may be easily shown.
Ii a stream of air is carried through distIl
led water which is of course absolutely pure,
and tiIe vessel containing the water Is rmmr-
dAteiy corked and allowed "a remain lor "a
lew months at moderate summer temprra
ture and is then opened, the water will emit
the diSagreeahle "dor ut animal putrctucGIrn.
The same phenomenon will be noticed If SHOW
be gathered, melted, and placed in bottle
That the odor Is not due Ia the presence II
ammonia washed from the atmosphere. II
proved by the fact that this odur cannot he de
trrled emanating from the water within the
first few days, whatever the temperature may
be- but when some time has elapsed suth
cient for the development and death ol the
animated beings inlt-the odor OF putrelat
ton Is perceived.
Then again, according to DR.. Riddle, il
drop of distilled water, treated as above
mentioned. is eyaporated on II clean watch
glass light colored stain will be- seen. Ii
the glass be- now heated short oi redness the
stain is blackeued. Ii heated to redness III
contact with air. the stain entirely disap
pears. except Il mere trace OF ash: thus show
ing the material observed is some form of or
ganized being. Ii glass vessel containing
Ice is suspended over moist iilluylal land, ami
the dew that gathers upon its exterior is col
ected, it will appear at first like pure clean
water, but soon, according to Moscati am
ltalmn sayan, little flakes appear possessed
of properties peculiar to animalized matter,
and finally, at the end OF some days, the
liquid will putreiy completely.
1t is impossible to determine the forms or
habits of these invisible creatures: but their
existence is demonstrated by the foregoing
observations MicroscOpists have suspected
the existence OF such beings from observing
the movements Of the smallest Of the visible
tribes Of the animalcules These may be seen
darting here and there in IL drop Of water,
when no other variety is visible. evidently III
pursuit of some sort of prey. single one
Ill he seen still for moment then 1t darts
forward rapidly, and stops, its body wrlthins
rs if i'll a struggle with Its prey.
If the observer will take solution OF meat
and heat it in closed vessel to degree
little above the boiling point, which destroys
all animal germs and close the vessel tight.
no animals can be seen on it and no putrr-
faction will occur, no matter how long II -
kept. But. if the cork be Withdrawn, it is
straightway peopled with varied forms OF liv-
ing creatures If, on the other hand, the
vessel is covered with AN animal membrane.
then all the usual chemical changes take
place, but no living beings are developed.
These facts are of great Importance, as Ia,
ken in connection with the belief growing IN
the minds of medical men, that animal or
even vegetable spores, suspended in tie air
carried III ships or waited by winds. are re
produced in countless millions wherever they
20, and find the conditions necessary for their
development, may be after all the mysterious
causes of desolatlng epidemcs.