Journal of Applied Microscopy. 629 



taken of what is said by Mivart (4), and by Wilder and Gage (5), with reference 

 to the domestic cat, — which animal was used in this investigation. 



It will not be necessary here to describe the methods employed, as a discussion 

 of the same is taken up later on in these papers, in proper order. 



Each of the three topics of this investigation has a history of its own, which 

 will respectively precede them, reviewing the facts in chronological order. 



I. THE BACTERIA ISOLATED IN THE INVESTIGATION. 



The earliest observation on record was that made in 1842, by John Good- 

 sir (6), who described an enormous number of sarcinae ventriculi which he found 

 in the stomach contents of a young man, suffering from a severe gastric disorder. 



Gruby (7), in 1844, in a report to the French Academy of Science, cited a 

 case that came under his observation, of a woman who had suffered for six years 

 from an annoying gastric trouble. A microscopic examination of the stomach 

 contents, revealed the presence of a large number of sporules, some measuring 

 as much as 4 /< in diameter, some very much less, and still others considerably 

 more than 4 //, all, however, arranged in beadstrings. From a study of his case, 

 he came to the following conclusions : 



1. The parasites present in the stomach did not come from the food digested. 



2. They inhabited only the mucosa of the stomach and the oesophagus. 



3. They multiplied most actively in the presence of ingested food. 



Von Whal (8), in 1861, reported a case of a mycotic affection of the stomach. 

 Embedded in the mucosa of the greater curvature of the fundus, he observed a 

 large number of pustules, which, upon a microscopical examination, appeared to 

 be composed of thickly felted masses of slender filaments. Magnified with a 

 power of 500 diameters, he was able to see very minute spherules, united in the 

 form of beadstrings. From his description, however, it cannot be said with cer- 

 tainty whether or not he dealt with a streptococcic invasion of the mucosa. 



Von Recklinghausen (9), in 1864, upon a microscopical examination of a 

 necrotic area of the gastric mucosa, found associated with the lesion a large 

 number of minute sporules. Whether the sporules were micrococci, or merely 

 the spores of a fungus, which was also found present in the diseased tissue, can- 

 not be definitely stated. 



Zalensky (10), in the same year, reported a case of hyperacidity in a child 

 two weeks old. Upon post inortem examination, the mucosa was found to con- 

 tain a large number of smallpox-like pustules, which, upon a microscopical 

 examination, revealed the presence of Oidium albicans, Robin, and he assigned 

 the affection to be due to this agent. 



Klebs (11), in 1881, reported to have found Bacillus gastricus in the stomachs 

 of patients suffering with diseases of this organ. 



Sternberg (12), in a contribution to the Johns Hopkins University Studies, 

 for 1881-3, made the statement that bacteria are present in the alimentary canal 

 of healthy men and animals. He also stated that it is possible for bacteria 

 present in the stomach to escape the action of the gastric juice, and get into the 

 intestines. 



Kundrat (13), in 1884, investigated a case in which he found Favus universalis. 



