Communications. 339 



bacillus tuberculosis, the germ claimed to be the cause of con- 

 sumption. 



Drs. H. C. Wood and Henry Formad, in experiments made un- 

 der the direction of the National Board of Health, with the form 

 of J/<'crococa found in connection with diphtheria, came to the con- 

 clusion that these germs differ from those found in common sore- 

 throat only in reproductive activity, and that diphtheria could be 

 self-generated when the conditions in the body or those acting upon 

 it from without were such as to stimulate the inert Alicrococd in 

 the mouth into activity. These germs are also to be found in the 

 mouth and throat of healthy persons. Bacillus tvhercuhsis is 

 found not only in connection with other diseases than consump- 

 tion, but is said to have been found in healthy tissue of the lungs, 

 and it is so announced by a medical society in Berlin. Pasteur 

 himself, in recent investigations, discovered the Microbe of hydro- 

 phobia in the throat of healthy persons, indicating that it may be 

 harmless under certain conditions. Mice and rabbits have eaten 

 tissue filled with spores and fibers of B. Aniltrax with impunity. 

 Virus containing these germs and also that of germs found in 

 hydrophobia, has been injected into the veins of arterial blood 

 without conveying the contagion. 



Dr. Eosenberger, of Wurzburg, after destroying the germs in 

 virus by holding it'at 300° of heat for two hours, then reproduced 

 the disease by innoculation with it and found the tissues filled 

 with the same germs again. 



Dr. Rossbach caused death by the injection of a purely chem- 

 ical poison and the body was soon filled with multitudes of 

 bacteria where none were to be seen just before. Space will not 

 permit a further extension of this subject, but surely enough has 

 been presented to show that there are many difiiculties in the way 

 of arriving at definite conclusions in regard to the exact mission 

 and power of these lower organisms, and to give sufficient reasons 

 for doubting some of the positive statements made in regard to 

 them, at least until we have more light on the subject. It is 

 better to go slow, than to be compelled to retrace our steps; it is 

 prudent to see where you are going to land before you jump, 

 whether the object be to clear a physical obstruction or to support 



