HOG-CHOLERA. 43 



The micrococci are found in immense numbers in the fluids of 

 the organism, especially in the blood and exudations. If the tem- 

 perature is not too low, and a sufficiency of oxygen is present, they 

 soon develop, or grow longitudinally, by a sort of budding process 

 — a germ, or micrococcus, under constant microscopic observation, 

 budded and grew to double its length in exactly two hours in a 

 temperature of 70° Fahr., and gradually developed to a true rod. 

 Some of the latter under favorable circumstances commence to grow 

 again in length, until they appear five to six inches long, with a 

 power of 850 diameters. At the same time scission takes place, 

 and they break into two or more segments. These long bacteria 

 appear to be replete with germs ; the external envelope disappears, 

 or is dissolved, and the germs become free. 



Some of the bacilli move very rapidly, while others appear mo- 

 tionless. The cause of motion seems to be in some way dependent 

 upon the temperature, for they appear motionless if the latter be 

 low, but soon move if the temperature be increased and caused to 

 exert a direct influence upon them. 



Another change to be observed is the collection of the germs, 

 or bacteria, in the so-called zooglea clusters, which are often to be 

 met with in the blood and other fluids, and invariably in the exu- 

 dations in the lungs. In the ulcerous tumors of the intestinal 

 mucosa these clusters are comparatively seldom, but the bacilli are 

 very numerously represented. These tumefactions in the intestinal 

 tracts appear to afford the most favorable conditions for the growth 

 and development of these bacteria. 



"Whether these zooglea clusters are instrumental in the pro- 

 duction of capillary embolism is still an open question, though it 

 appears highly probable. The vitality of the germs, and especially 

 of the bacilli, does not appear to be very great (Detmers) except 

 where they are contained in a medium not very prone to decomposi- 

 tion, such as water which contains a slight amount of organic sub- 

 stances. In the water of streams, brooks, etc., the germs are not 

 very rapidly destroyed. In fluids and substances subject to putre- 

 faction the bacteria lose their vitality very soon, and apparently dis- 

 appear. They are also destroyed when acted upon by alcohol, car- 

 bolic acid, thymol, iodine, etc. With reference to the vitality of the 

 infectious elements, Law says of the 



Virulence of Dried Virus. — This was indicated three years ago 

 by Professor Axe, of London, who successfully inoculated pigs 

 with virus that had been dried on ivory points for seventy-six days. 

 Law inoculated three pigs with virulent products that had been 



