278 IV. THE PRINCIPLES OF LIFE PHENOMENA 



bacilli through the stage of non-acid-fast forms. 



If tubercle bacillus can recover its complete form from such a 

 virus-like particle, its penetration into germ cell like a genuine virus 

 may be possible. To speak more precisely, the pattern of the bacillus, 

 like that of a virus, may be engraved in the mother germ cell of 

 man, and the pattern may be transmitted to the germ cell in a reduced 

 form as in the case of a virus ; as the pattern exists in the germ cell 

 in this reduced structure, the original pattern of the tubercle bacillus 

 cannot be proved in it, but when the germ cell develops to a human 

 individual; the reduced pattern of the bacillus also develops to the 

 complete, original pattern of virus-like particle having the original 

 pattern, from which the acid-fast bacillus may be formed. The first 

 infection may thus be established. The character of the bacillus thus 

 developed may change further with the further development of the 

 host individual, with the diminution in the virulence which may again 

 increase afterwards to cause the reinfection. 



The percentage of children of varying ages who have become 

 tuberculin-test positive usually varies with regions, suggesting that 

 the period of the development of the complete pattern varies according 

 to the regions. In view of the climatic or topographical effect which 

 may vary with regions, it seems natural that the disposition of the 

 children also varies with them, resulting in the difference in the 

 period of the development of the pattern. The infection from outside 

 cannot be disregarded, but most of the first infections may result 

 from the development of the pattern in the children as in the case of 

 measles. 



At any rate, tubercle bacilli, like microorganisms in insects re- 

 ferred to in the preceding section, appear to be entirely involved in 

 the host, /. e., in human beings, with which they can be rejuvenated. 

 The consumptive is born to a consumptive said Hypocrates. This 

 must be the truth. It can even be said that tubercle bacillus is an 

 inheritable pattern of the gene in the majority of human beings. The 

 reason why such a mention can be made will become gradually 

 evident as the description proceeds, especially in the next Part. 



Since tubercle bacilli are connected with the mankind in such a 

 firm way, if any alteration occurs in the latter, the former will be 

 changed together with it. Some authorities regard tuberculosis as an 

 epidemic disease with epidemic waves ; the last one, having reached 

 its peak about 70 years ago, is now declining. With the exception of 

 war times, there has been an almost universal decline in the mortality 

 of tuberculosis throughout the world (89). The writer is of the opinion 

 that this may be attributable to the wave of the change in human 

 disposition ; it should be a very remarkable fact that human stature 



