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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by William Sharpey, on a paper 'Experimental researches on spontaneous generation' by Gilbert W Child

Reference number: RR/5/49

Date: 16 July 1863

Description

Not recommended for publication in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'. Refers to work of Félix Archimède Pouchet and Louis Pasteur, and their academic disagreements. The results were not what the author was expecting, which is why they have put them forward for publication. Referee considers the results to be in line with the results of Louis Pasteur, and they do not add new knowledge to the subject. Criticises that the experiments were not repeated. Considers the abstract in the Proceedings is satisfactory.

Subject: Botany and Physiology

[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1863]

Reference number
RR/5/49
Earliest possible date
16 July 1863
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
8 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Sharpey

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Citation

William Sharpey, Referee's report by William Sharpey, on a paper 'Experimental researches on spontaneous generation' by Gilbert W Child, 16 July 1863, RR/5/49, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_5_49/referees-report-by-william-sharpey-on-a-paper-experimental-researches-on-spontaneous-generation-by-gilbert-w-child, accessed on 24 March 2025

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  • Referee Reports

    This collection contains reports on scientific papers submitted for publication to the Royal Society. Started in 1832 when the system was formalised, it is a record of the origins of peer review publishing in practice.

    Dates: 1832 - 1954

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