334 BACTERIA IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



The presence of these bacilli in leprous tuber- 

 cles, etc., has been confirmed by several observers 

 in addition to those mentioned. Recently Dr. 

 Thin, an experienced microscopist and mycolo- 

 gist, has reported that he finds, in the skin of 

 Chinese lepers, a bacillus of the size and form, 

 and same staining qualities, as that described by 

 Hansen. 1 It is said that the bacillus is not found 

 in the anaesthetic form of the disease. 



The writer examined the blood of lepers in the 

 Charity Hospital, New Orleans, during the sum- 

 mer of 1880, with a negative result, so far as the 

 direct examination was concerned. But in cul- 

 ture-cells in which a drop of blood, protected from 

 the external air, was supplied with oxygen from a 

 small air-space, hermetically enclosed, micrococci 

 developed, which may be seen in the heliotype re- 

 production of a photo-micrograph made from such 

 a specimen, Plate II. Fig. 3. 



Inasmuch as these lepers had upon the face and 

 hands ulcerated tubercles, the pus from which 

 was doubtless infested with micrococci, very little 

 importance was attached to the fact that micro- 

 cocci made their appearance in these culture-cells. 

 For the chances of accidental contamination, of a 

 drop of blood drawn from the finger, by micro- 

 cocci from the surface of the body, were so great 

 as to give but little value to the culture-experi- 

 ment, notwithstanding the fact that the precaution 

 was taken to wash the finger with alcohol before 



1 British Medical Journal, Aug. 6, 1882, p. 231. 



