178 PHYSIOLOGY .OF THE BACTERIA. 
pus, and preserve it in the open air for some time, 
we may follow the increasing development of these 
germs. An important remark, due to Dr. Molliére 
of Lyons, is that the phenomena of putrefaction 
are hastened by the presence of blood in the puru- 
lent liquid. A quantity of pus drawn by aspira- 
tion from a deep abscess, and not mixed with blood, 
was exposed to the air for fifteen days, without 
any bad odor being developed. 
Bacteria in Purulent Collections not Exposed 
to the Air. — In 1875, Dr. Albert Bergeron com- 
municated to the Academy of Sciences (Séance of 
Feb. 26) the results of numerous observations 
made in the service of Prof. Gosselin, for the 
purpose of ascertaining if the pus of abscesses 
contains bacteria. The following are the conclu- 
sions of his memoir: — 
1. Vibrios are found in the pus of abscesses, 
without any contact with the external air and 
without, usually, any indication that the organism 
is seriously infected by their presence; 2. We can- 
not admit that in these cases the vibrios have pen- 
etrated into the interior of the abscess through the 
lymphatic system, or through the circulatory sys- 
tem, both being intact. The pus of warm abscesses 
in adults often contains vibrios; if they occur in 
the case of infants the fact has not been observed ; 
3. The pus of cold abscesses in the adult, as in the 
infant, never contains them; 4. The vibrios may 
be considered as indicating a serious inflammatory 
state, and a certain tendency to decomposition of 
