New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-10
TYNDALL ON INFECTED ALB.


PROP. TYSDALI-CoNcLUsrvE EVIDENCE Ac-
oUIIED BY HIM.
IRON The REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUSEl
LONDON, Jan. 20.-Prof. Tyndal delivered last
night at the Royal Institution, before a numerous
and distinguished audience, lecture on a Combat
with an Infectve Atmospheric IL is the third IN
the Dust and Disease series, stating the latest re-
suits of his continued experiments on the origin of
life under certain conditions which, tested by less
careful hands have given rise to the theory of what
is called spontaneous generation. lecture on the
same subject last year will be fresh in TIE memory
Of those whom these inquiries are interesting 1t
was followed by a brief controversy in the news
papers Dr. Bastian coming 10 the relief OF
his pet notion with perhaps more zeal than
discretion Dr. Tyndall had, for some months before
his address of last year. carried series of investl
cations which he then described, with view tn
ascertain whether IN any case the origin OF life dd
occur in such circumstances that It's generation must
be deemed spontaneous. The answer III every case
was negative and his experiments were 80 nunler-
Gus that to his own and other minds they seemed
conclusive or # conclusive be toe strong word 70
use in scientific inquiry seemed 20 overthrow com
plecy the conclusions Of his opponents and to east
upon them once more the whole burden of proof
For most men this would have sufhced, and most
men would have left the matter there and gone Oh
to some OTHER subject. Prof. Tyndall, however, Is
something more than skilled cOntroveTsiallst he
IL student 10 whom science Is dear for its own sake,
and truth for its own sake. lie may nave taken
certain. pleasure in committing DR.. Bastlan and his
allies but the essential thing with him was 10 pur-
sue his inquiries long as there was IN ms own
mind doubt whether any important fact remained
to be discovered. | shall not be understood as re-
peating Or. Tyndalls words. l am drawing my
own differences from the account lie gave of his re-
cent work.
What Dr. TyndaH did then, was first To repeat
his last years experiments With view TO verify ng
them. These experiments. as he explained them 20
us last night with the help Of the apparatus actually
used and in his beautifully clear style were readily
understood by an audience OF which the largest part
was rather fashionable and literary than scientific
| don't know that writing from memory only and
without such helps, l eau make them understood
by nv readers, but VIII try; first stating briefly
the opposing views between which these expert
uents were meant TO arbitTate. What is called the
theory of spontaneous generation depends for sup
port Oh supposed facts of such kind as tins. II,
SAY the advocates. you take an infusion OF animal
or vegetable matter, expose it 10 sYch degree OF
heat by boiling for such length OF time rs mast
destroy al known forms Of life, then exclude ali
poS.e means Of communicating life, it VIII never
tbeless. after a certain period, be found to con
tain living organisms. Take an infusion Of hay, boil
it. nut Il in glass tube stop the mouth OF the tube
so that no germs from the air can get access 10 II
still IN time putrefaction will set In and the INFUSION
will De found swarming with bacteria. 10 tins TIC
opponents of the theory reply that the experiments
have not been conducted with sufficient care, ana
that the external germs which supposed 10 be
b,-r int, IIta in
fusion from without: 90 that it is not necessary
and hence not nst1liable-to infer that generation
was spontaneous Prof. Tyndalps previous expert
ments were so conducted to prove, apparently,
that wherever the living germs in the air were really
shnt ont the infusions remained perfectly clear 10
urtrefaction occurred and trace of life c0u'd he
fouDd The air itself Of course, has no gcnerative
mower. but the air is filed with vast numbers of
NOTES which are or which contain, germs of life.
How can these be got rid Of They may be burnt
ont or filtered cut, but the air will free itself OF
them. IL it has chance. If left perfectly quiet
they subside
Prof. Tyndan constructed a small wooden
chamber a foot square, with glass at the sides
and door ar the back. Through the bottom
Of the chamber were inserted three glass tnhes,
fitted air-tighl aud projecting downward for some
inches Through the top passed small pipette also
alright. but movable. The chamber was lined with
some sticky substance, that the notes as they fell
OF rs they came against the sides would adhere
After being left two three days in perfect quiet
it was found that all the dnst and NOTES in the
chamber had subsidized, and the air remained per-
fcctly pure-a lact de!nOnstranle by passing beam
of Erb+ through the chamber. Then the infusion
was introduced into the tu5e through the pip1'e,
pra,autioDs being taken that no air went along with
,,r,i. a NsTtr
inserted IN bath, ami the liquid boiled for ten
u,inutcs-lung enough TO destroy the germs cou-
taiued IN lie infusion Itself. Here arrive AT the
cr+icol mint. We have fluid which has been
rIet.Iy s.erlzet-an the life ard germs Of life it
obtained from the hay boiled ont of ii. We know
that tl,s st.rilZed fluid if left in contact with
in if, ordinary state viii speedily become viviicd-
what We call purrtfactlon. which is really the
e,ing into lie of muritudinous beings taking
nIace ard the whole turning rotten. Pdrt OF tie
sana Infusion from which tie protected tubes have
beea i!led il left exposed IL other tu1es, and PIT
tr4fartion invariably IL the protected tubes
notbjEg of the sort happened provided the PTot'c-
tipu were complete. The slightest want 81 care
proyed fatal. ANY neglect which allowed germ
from tie air 20 get INTO contact with the iiaid ~ the
tubes resulted in the decomposition Of the Infusion
and the app.araHce of bacteria. But hundreds u
xnerimauts ,rc.c made, aud there was no case last
vear in which putr,faction happened which could
not be satisfactorily accounted Tor.
So fa good and tae tome of last year lecture was
| NAV sav. even triumphant. We 'I supposed last
nj gh that We we're to have the subject treated ms
wear III a not less absolute way What was oar sur
prise TO hear Prof Tyndali begin his lecture bi an
announcement that dnring the past three months hc
had repeated his previous experiments, MAKING iNc
Of the same apDaatas aud tic same methods ana tI1t
nearly every experiment had failed! La other "or Is
The precautions which las year had proved SUN
Gent 20 proven: generation, bad t1is year prove"