112 Dr. Carpenter oji Disease Germs. 



produced, such production not taking place at all whilst the 

 solution was distinctly acid in its reaction. This distinctive 

 characteristic as to the effect of acid solutions had been dwelt 

 upon in the author's paper upon Dry Eot, in which he showed 

 that an atmosphere with excess of carbonic acid diffused through 

 it assisted to develop dry rot in wood. In the group Coccacem he 

 placed the coccus of pyaemia, of erysipelas, of fowl cholera, of 

 blood rain, of gonorrhoea, of small-pox and cow-pox, the sarcina 

 of dyspejpsia, and some others which are now thoroughly 

 recognised. 



The second group, viz., that of Bacteiiacece, contained that 

 form which produced alkaline fermentation in urine ; that which 

 gave rise to acid reactions, those which caused phosphorescence in 

 some organic remains, that which sets up dij)htlieria in pigeons 

 and men, as well as the pebrine or silk-worm disease. In this 

 genus was also to be found the comma bacillus of Koch, as well 

 as that of cholera nostras, and also the tubercle bacillus ; the spi- 

 rillum of relapsing fever, and the bacillus of anthrax, which also 

 sets up wool-sorter's disease, malignant pustule, and splenic fever. 



The attenuation of virus was explained, by means of which 

 Pasteur hoped to do for cattle that which vaccination had done 

 for men ; and Dr. Carpenter explained the immunity of indi- 

 viduals from second attacks, on the theory that disease-germs 

 requh'ed a certain kind of food to enable them to multiply, and 

 that if there was no such food no such development took place ; 

 that the quantity available for sucli growths was minute, and 

 that it was consumed by an attack of infectious disease, so that 

 second attacks were rare in consequence of no food remaining. 

 He pointed out the influence of the Eay fungus in setting up 

 abscesses in various parts of the body, and gave it as his opinion 

 that the treatment of disease would in the course of a few years 

 be on very different lines to what it is at present ; and that a 

 very great number of those which now came under treatment 

 would before very long become as much diseases of the past as 

 dysentery, plague, and scurvy, because they would be treated 

 upon a rational and scientific plan, instead of the empirical plan 

 now frequently adopted. 



Specimeiis of some of those referred to were exhibited, mounted 

 and stained by Dr. Heron, among which were the " Comma 

 Bacillus" of Koch, and the " Comma Bacillus" of Pfluger, the 

 former believed by some to be the cause of Asiatic cholera, the 

 latter established as the cause of English cholera. The " Tubercle 

 Bacillus," "Spirillum of Eelapsing Fever," and "Bacillus 

 Anthracis" were also shown. The microscopic appearances of 

 the disease-germs mentioned by Dr. Carpenter were well shown 

 in some large diagrams whicla had been lent to him by Dr. 

 Dreschfield, of Manchester. 



