334 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



had considerably increased in number, whilst the small 

 spheroidal particles seemed to be as plentiful as before. 

 When portions of brain substance from some central 

 parts of the organ were also examined at this time, 

 moving particles and Bacteria were seen to exist in the 

 greatest abundance amongst the disintegrated nerve 

 elements, which had probably been poured out from the 

 blood-vessels. 



Now, with regard to the origin of those Bacteria 

 which were observed in the vessels a few minutes after 

 the brain had been removed from the body, it is, in the 

 first place, perfectly obvious that they must have existed 

 in the blood of these vessels before the brain had been 

 removed and before the skull was opened. Bacteria are 

 not produced in any fluids under two or three hours. 

 Their origin could not, therefore, have been due to 

 Bacteria-'^QXYn.^ derived from the atmosphere, which, on 

 removal of the skull-cap, had in some mysterious way 

 insinuated themselves into the blood vessels. They 

 must either have existed in the blood during life, or else 

 they must have been produced de novo in this fluid after 

 death. There is strong reason for disbelieving that 

 Bacteria existed in the blood during the life of the indi- 

 vidual. I have several times examined the blood of 

 individuals who were similarly affected with this exag- 

 gerated form of rheumatic fever, and have always failed 

 to discover any such organisms i. It is, therefore, far 



^ Even if they had existed, however, during life, there would still be 

 weighty reasons inclining us to believe that they had been produced de 



