308 OFFICIAL REFUTATION OF DR. KOCH’S THEORY 
bacilli are found chiefly and almost exclusively in the mucus 
flakes of the lower part of the ileum—a statement borne out 
by our observations—does not harmonise, it appears, with the 
assumption that the comma-bacilli are the cause of the disease, 
since, in several acute typical cases, there is no difference as 
regards the aspect of the intestine, the amount of fluid and 
flakes contained in the cavity of the intestine, and the ana- 
tomical changes of the membrane between the lower and upper 
portions of the ileum as well as jejunum” (p. 7). : 
“ Fine sections made of the mucous membrane of the above 
typical acute cases of cholera, after hardening the intestines in 
alcohol or Miiller’s fluid, particularly the first (also used by 
Koch), and stained in various aniline dyes (gentian violet, in 
several modifications, Spiller’s purple, methyl blue, magenta, 
after Ehrlich’s, Weigert’s, Koch’s, and other methods), revealed 
the total absence of comma-bacilli from the mucous membrane 
itself, from the tissue of the villi, from the Lieberkiihn’s follicles, 
and from the lymphatic tissue of the Peyer’s and solitary glands ; 
the epithelium of the surface of the villi having become de- 
tached, during life has not generally kept its place in the 
hardened intestine but in many places the epithelium of the 
surface as well as that of the Lieberkihn’s follicles, although 
loosened and slightly raised from the mucous membrane, had 
nevertheless kept its position and was fixed during the hard- 
ening ; and in these places the comma-bacilli or any other 
organisms are conspicuous by their absence ; they are nowhere 
to be found, they are simply absent” (page 9). . 
“ Some of the ardent supporters of Koch’s theory, after it 
has been shown that the mucous membrane of the ileum or of 
any other part in the acute cases of cholera, provided the 
examination be made immediately or very soon after death, is 
absolutely free of comma-bacilli, might and probably will, 
nevertheless, cling to the comma-bacilli as the cause of cholera, 
saying,—‘ But the comma-bacilli are present in the cavity of 
the intestine, and although absent from the mucosa itself might 
nevertheless be the producers of the chemical ferment, seeing 
that they are present in such large numbers.’ As answer to 
