Page 141 - Ethel D. Hume - Bešam ili Paster: Izgubljeno poglavlje u istoriji biologije

i 3 8 BfiCHAMP OR PASTEUR?
sure that Professor Bechamp did not miss the opportunity.
The hard thick surface seemed to him to be intact, but
moulds had been formed by large cells of fungi, which had
already developed mycelium. Yet on cutting through this
surface, only microzymas and not any bacteria were to be
found within the cut, though everything was favourable
for an invasion, for there were moulds on the surface and
the roots of the plant were rotten.
It is very certain that the Professor, in all the cases we
have touched upon, did not content himself with merely a
microscopic examination. In each instance, he applied
chemical tests and discovered that, roughly speaking, the
cell sap of the normal cactus had an acid reaction, whereas
that of the frozen parts was found to be slightly alkaline.
There were changes, however, which varied with each
1
plant examined, and in a Memoir on the subject, in
which these are described, he stated the coincidence of the
—
development of the bacteria and the alkalinity of the
medium. He added: "Although the contrary has been
believed, bacteria can develop in an acid medium, which
may remain acid or become alkaline, as well as they can
develop in an absolutely neutral medium." He believed
that if it be true that some species of microzymas evolve
into bacteria only in neutral or slightly alkaline media,
others, none the less, develop in media normally acid.
Bechamp, as we must remember, had been the first to
demonstrate with precision the development and multi-
plication of air-borne organisms in a suitable medium.
Understanding so well the important role of the micro-
organisms of the air, he was naturally curious to note the
effect of their deliberate introduction into surroundings
where they would encounter the microzymas, which he
considered to be the living formative builders of plant and
animal bodies. He, therefore, inoculated plants with
bacteria and attentively studied the results of this foreign
1 Comptes Rendus de VAcademie des Sciences 68, p. 466 (22nd February, 1869).
Les Microzymas des Organismes Superieures, Montpellier Midicale 24, p. 32. Les
Microzymas, p. 145.