110 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BACTERIA. 
ing normal blood in flasks perfectly closed, has also 
given some favorable results, such as those of 
Hensen, Tiegel, Billroth, and Nedvedsky, and 
some unfavorable results, as those of Liiders and 
Pasteur. According to Nedvedsky, the blood “ con- 
tains germs capable of undergoing in it, under 
certain circumstances, an ulterior development: 
these are the Hemococcos.” If these germs do not 
give birth, normally, to bacteria, it is because the 
blood is as injurious to them as the most advanced 
stages of putrefaction (Billroth). If this hypoth- 
esis 1s true, it explains several embarrassing facts, 
such as the existence of micrococci in the pus of 
ease in question, and is proved by comparative tests not to develop in 
the blood of healthy individuals, obtained at the same time and by the 
same method. 
“ Tried by this test, it must be admitted that certain fungi and groups 
of micrococci, shown in photographs taken from specimens of yellow- 
fever blood collected at the military hospital and preserved in culture 
cells, cannot reasonably be supposed to be peculiar to or to have any 
causal relation to this disease.” — Preliminary Report of Havana Commis- 
sion to National Bourd of Health. 
In subsequent observations upon the blood of malarial fever, of 
syphilis, and of leprosy, I have sometimes obtained a development of 
micrococci in culture cells where all possible precautions as to the exclu- 
sion of atmospheric germs had been taken, and in one case have seen 
the development of Penicil/ium in another of Sarcina. The last observa- 
tion is,so far as I know unique, and I have still in my possession the 
culture-slide containing numerous masses of Sarcina, presenting the 
characteristic arrangement of the cells in fours. This slide was put up 
at the bedside of a patient suffering from intermittent fever in the Char- 
ity Hospital, New Orleans. Every precaution was taken to exclude at- 
mospheric germs. The patient’s finger was washed with absolute alcohol 
just before making the puncture from which the little drop of blood was 
obtained. The question as to whether in this and similar cases the 
germs of the organism which develops come from the atmosphere or 
pre-existed in the bluod is one to which I propose to give special atten- 
tion ; and, after further experiment, I shall discuss it in my report to the 
National Board of Health.—G. M. S. 
