The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

EXPERIENCE FROM PAST CONPLICTS. 53vitality of the microscopic germs inclosed init; and Roberts at a later stage confirmed thisby independent investigation, proving " thatslightly alkaline liquids are more difficult tosterilize by heat than slightly acid liquids."In this way, it was shown that distinct recordsof temperature were needful, greaterintensity of heat being required in somecases than in others, in order to secure destructionof germs. The facts were illustratedby hay infusion, " the acid infusion invariablyremaining barren after a few minutes' boiling,and the neutralized infusion invariably becomingfertile after a similar boiling." -/- Theneutralizing element was liquor potasss, andthe next question started was this, Did theliquor potasss enable the germs to livelonger under the boiling process, or did itsinfusion operate so as to originate life wheregerms no longer had any existence ? A contrivancewas adopted by which the boilingcould be applied to the hay inf~~sion, whilethe liquor potasss was kept enclosed in anotherpart of the tube, ready to be added* Contribution to Royal Society of London. Nature xv. p.802, Feb. 1, 1877.t lb.