154 THE MIcCROSUOPE. 
this excess might be satisfactorily accounted for in the following - 
way: Since 1850 (from which date the prevalence of diarrhcea ap- 
peared to have commenced and increased) the whole of the area of 
the “ diarrhcea district’ of the town had been subjected to a pollution 
with organic filth, more or less of an excremental character. This, 
acted upon by the heat of the summer sun, amply sufficed for an 
enormous production of bacteria. Imperfect and filthy sewers, con- 
taining much deposit, in the same way contributed to like results. 
Meteorological observations during the summer months of 1885, 1886, 
1887, showed that as soon as the earth at a depth of one foot reached 
about 62° F. the disease broke out. At the time of writing (July 
23d, 1888) this subsoil temperature had not yet been reached, and 
the outbreak had not yet commenced for this year. In addition to 
the need for more exact isolation and identification of the “ diarrhoea 
microbe,”’ it was of equal importance to study how this and other 
bacteria acted in producing disease, whether it was probable by the 
production of some poisonous material of an alkaloidal character, 
such as ptomaines or leucomaines. These inquiries were of supreme 
importance to physician and clinical observer as well as hygienist, 
but could hardly be expected to be carried on by an ordinary health 
officer, with multifarious routine duties toattend to. Such questions 
as these required the whole time and attention of specialists. 
Inrectiviry or Paruistca, Sweat.—Mattsis’ experiments have 
led him to the conclusion that (a) the sweat of phthisical patients 
contains the bacillus tuberculosis, and is therefore infectious; (b) 
that these bacilli are not eliminated from the body through the 
perspiration, but come from the sputum, are suspended in the air 
and became attached to the linen of the patient. The sweat of 
tuberculosis was first investigated by Severi in 1884, who discovered 
the bacillus of Koch in the excretion. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Minera Fipers.*—Mr. C. V. Boys, describing in the Physical 
Society in London ‘“‘ The Production, Preparation and Properties of 
the Finest Fibers,” said that in producing very fine glass fibers, he 
found it best to use very small quantities at high temperatures with 
a velocity of separation as great as possible. In the last point the 
best results are given by a cross-bow and straw arrow, to the tail of 
* Popular Science Monthly. 
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