mVERTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 839 



In tlie course of these experiments the author employed on several 

 occasions Bacillus antliracis artificially cultivated in successive gene- 

 rations in aqueous humour, and finding that the results appeared to 

 vary considerably with the stage of the cultivation, those furthest 

 removed from the original parent-source being more frequently 

 inactive, he was led to make a series of observations of which he now 

 communicates the results. They may be stated as follows : — 



That when Bacillus anthracis is artificially grown in successive 

 generations in a nutrient fluid (aqueous humour), it maintains its 

 morbific properties through a certain number of generations, but each 

 successive generation becomes less virulent than its predecessor, 

 requiring both a longer time and a larger quantity to exert its mor- 

 bific action ; and after continuous diminution of virulence, at a certain 

 stage in the successive cultivations, the Bacillus, though maintaining 

 all its morjiliological characters and its power of growth, becomes 

 completely innocuous even to the most susceiitible class of animals. 



It may be added that the modified virus produces forms of modi- 

 fied disease which differ widely from ordinary sjilenic fever, both in 

 the distribution of the Bacilli and in the nature of the symptoms and 

 pathological appearances. 



In regard to the general method employed in the determination 

 of the gradual diminution of virulence by successive artificial cultiva- 

 tions, the cultivating fluid was aqueous humour in closed tubes half 

 filled, and the animals inoculated chiefly mice. The cultivations 

 were continued to the nineteenth generation, each successive genera- 

 tion presenting identical morphological characters at the various 

 stages of its growth, and showing no diminution in the capacity for 

 growth nor marked variation in the time and temperature relations of 

 its germination. In no case were any symptoms or a fatal result 

 produced by inoculation with a later generation than the twelfth, 

 beyond that stage, a large quantity of actively germinating rods and 

 spores produced no result whatever. The diminution of virulence 

 was very marked at the eighth generation, both as regards the pro- 

 portion of animals affected, and the rapidity of action with an equal 

 dose. 



The author defers at present dwelling upon any conclusions to bo 

 drawn from the experiments pending further investigations. 



Bacterium foetidum : an Organism associated with profuse 

 Sweating from the Soles of the Feet." — Dr. George Thin refers to 

 the fiict of the feet of certuiu individuals being characterized by a 

 peculiar powerful and fa-tid odour, wliich is really connected with 

 the UKUsture (an admixture of sweat with serous exudation from the 

 blood) that soaks the soles of the stockings and tlie inside of the 

 boots. 



"When a small portion of the solo of the wet stocking was teased 

 out in water, the drop of water was found to bo swarming with micro- 

 cocci. A second generation of the organism, which tlie author calls 

 Bacterium fatidum, was obtained by placing a small piece of the wet 



♦ ' Troc. Roy. Soc.,' xxx. (1880) p. iT3. 



