INVERTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 313 



pipe (first cleansed by beating to redness), surrounded by a freezing 

 mixture. In tbe air tbus obtained, flesb was removed from the dorsal 

 muscles of a decapitated rabbit, using a scorched knife and forceps, 

 and hermetically sealed in three glass tubes cleansed by heating to 

 redness. Another tube containing brain, and two other tubes con- 

 taining muscle, were left closed with cotton-wool only, covered with a 

 cap of resin and wax cement. 



This was done on September 2nd, 1878, and the tubes were left in 

 a temperature averaging 60^ Fahr. On the 9th, the tubes Xos. 1—4, 

 containing muscle, showed minute hairs of mycelium projecting in 

 one or two places from the flesh. In Nos. 1-3 the mycelium never 

 fruited, but disappeared with an increase of the moisture of the flesh. 

 In No. 4 (stopped with wool only) it fruited, the flesh became putrid, 

 and held myriads of active bacteria. The brain remained unchanged 

 for ten days, and then suddenly softened and broke down. Thus one 

 specimen alone was left, and this was exhibited (August 1879) by the 

 author still intact, apparently having neither held nor received 

 infection. 



Although Nos. 1-3 developed mycelium and extruded a quan- 

 tity of slightly glairy fluid almost equal in bulk to the flesh, it is 

 remarkable that they did not become putrid. One of them opened in 

 August 1879, had an odour like boiled rabbit and catchup, and was 

 decidedly not ofl:ensive. It, like the others, was speckled over with 

 white aggregations, which proved to be bimches of acicular crystals 

 insoluble in alcohol or ether, like creatin, and were only slightly 

 soluble in warm water. No Bacteria were found in the fluid. 



Prevented by circumstances from continuing these experiments, 

 Mr. Moss turned his attention to observations on human venous blood, 

 by a method which appeared to exclude possibility of infection, and 

 which at the same time alh^ws the blood to be examined at intervals. 

 The apparatus consists of a series of small glass bulbs connected 

 together by capillary tubes, so that one bulb and its contents can be 

 separated from the rest by the blowpipe. The tubes and bulbs arc 

 bent on each other, so that the whole series can be readily baked in a 

 water or paraffin bath. One end of the series is left open, packed with 

 baked wool, and connected with an aspirator, the other dra\vn to a fine 

 point and scaled. The sealed point is secured in a short piece of 

 stout indiarubber connection pipe, which is fastened over the collar 

 of a fine hypodermic needle, protected ready for use in a calcined 

 glass sheath. The whole arrangement is then repeatedly baked in a 

 water-bath at intervals of four hours. 



In using the apparatus, the sheath is removed from the needle, and 

 the latter plunged into any suitable vein. The sealed point inside the 

 indiarubber connection tube is broken, and the blood flows gently 

 through the series of bulbs, drawn on by the aspirator acting through 

 the cotton plug. When sufticient has entered, the blowpipe severs the 

 tube next the needle, and instantly afterwards that next the wool plug. 



By this method Mr. Moss has constantly found, after the lajtse of 

 forty-eiglit or more hours, organisms in the blood of interuiitteut 

 fever, which he was unable to find in fresh Idood. They consist of 



