148 DR. BEALE, ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
state, each capable of growing and multiplying rapidly when 
placed under favorable circumstances. The rate of growth 
and multiplication far exceeds that at which the normal ger- 
minal matter of the blood and tissue multiplies, and that 
they appropriate the pabulum of the tissues, and even grow 
at their expense,” leading to all the many general symptoms 
of rinderpest. 
Dr. Beale’s report contains many more most interesting 
questions, but we have attempted to draw attention to the 
bare outline of the more important points which have an im- 
mediate interest to the practitioner in reference to the causa- 
tion of contagious diseases. 
Dr. Beale’s hypothesis puts into very definite shape the 
ideas which have long been loosely held as to the influence 
of organic life in the production of disease. No doubt a large 
number of chemical actions are at work, and play most im- 
portant parts in disease, but it is not unlikely that these in 
their turn are dependent upon the action of living material. 
It has lately been shown that fermentative changes are de- 
pendant upon the nutritive act of the torula cells, and in a 
similar sense it is admissible to entertain the idea that the 
phenomena of contagious diseases are intimately connected 
and probably depend upon the development and increase of 
germinal growing living matter. 
It is interesting to notice that the views of Dr. Beale upon 
the nature of the contagious material have been remarkably 
confirmed by Mr. Crookes, who, from purely chemical in- 
vestigation, has proved that the active contagious substance 
is in a living state. The results detailed in Mr. Crookes’ 
report are extremely important, and we beg to direct atten- 
tion to it. 
[This Report, from the ‘ Medical Times and Gazette,’ has 
been carefully revised for this Journal. ] 
