314 The Microscope. 



tory, it would be a gross oversight not to mention the mid-day lunch 

 to which we were treated. From the time of entering in the morn- 

 ing, until four or five in the afternoon, we were not allowed to leave 

 the building. This, of course, necessitated some refi-eshment at mid- 

 day, and. in the good old German style, it consisted of sandwiches 

 and beer. The houi's fi'om ten to twelve each day were spent in the 

 cholera room, and after passing through a thorough disinfection by 

 means of external heat and cold, and a final washing in con'osive 

 sublimate solution, we gathered about a long table, with Dr. Koch 

 seated at the head. The convei'sation would natm-ally have to do 

 with the morning's work, and, to the writer, the half-hours thus 

 spent proved by far the most interesting part of the course, taken up 

 as they were with personal experiences, intermingled with rare bits 

 of information pertaining to bacteriological study. The lunch over, 

 the afternoons were given up to an examination of the cultures in 

 their various stages of development, and the preparation of peiTna- 

 nent microscopic slides. The last three days were devoted to inocu- 

 lation experiments upon rabbits, guinea-pigs and white mice. As to 

 the results of these experiments, I may say that they were successful 

 only when the culture was introduced directly into the duodenum. 

 When fed to the animals in appreciable quantities, no trustworthy 

 symptoms were induced, and at the autopsy it was invariably found 

 that the microbes had perished during their passage through the 

 stomach. This bears out Koch's theory of the fatal action of the 

 gastric juices upon this organism. It also closely follows our knowl- 

 edge of the disease, for some impairment of the digestive process 

 has always seemed the most important factor in cholera infection. 



In personal appearance. Dr. Koch is slightly above medivim 

 height, of rather stout habit, with dark complexion and prominent 

 featm-es. His eyes are deep set, the result, no doubt, of prolonged 

 study over the microscope. This condition, of course, gives addi- 

 tional prominence to the cheek bones. His manner is one of retire- 

 ment, and not at all calculated, at first, to inspire a feeling o'f ease on 

 the part of those with whom he comes in contact. Later, however, 

 this feeling gives place to a gradual and ever-increasing attachment. 

 He is a man whose convictions are well defined, and adhered to with 

 almost obstinate tenacity. He possesses the two qualifications essen- 

 tial to a successful mycologist — patience and perseverance. Com- 

 bined with these is a rare trait, the ability to define one's ovni 

 position clearly, to which, no doubt, a large share of his present 

 success is due. — Dr. Geo. W. Lewis in Independent' Practitioner. 



