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

EXPERIENCE FROM PAST CONFLICTS. 59numerous cases there was success in destroyingthe germs by removal of the air in thisway without any boiling process. In thesecases, the air was carefully restored, precautJionsbeing adopted to guard against admissionof germinal forms, and in no case did lifereappear in the infusions. As in the morecorninoil style of experiment, the warmthsuitable could not charm the life back again;so in this, the restoration of oxygen, couldnot secure restoration of life.Thus evidence from all sides directed surelyto the conclusion that the alleged discoveryof " sponta~ileous generation " was a delusion,the result of hasty and insufficient experiment.Dr. Bastian, nevertheless, stuck heroicallyto his original position, and cameinto conflict with M. Pasteur of Paris, bymeans of a communication which the EnglishProfessor had sent to the Academy of Sciencesin July of the previous year, 1876. In thebeginning of 1877, M. Pasteur threw downan explicit challenge to Professor Bastian,which resulted in the appointment of a commissioilto observe the experiment,^ and adjudicate.With this terminates the history ofnearly ten years of curious and singular in-