416 BACTERIA IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 



inoculated the tracheal mucous membrane of tracheo- 

 tomized rabbits and noted the results. He invariably 

 produced a spasmodic catarrhal affection resembling 

 whooping-cough, and he observed that the bacteria 

 do not penetrate the epithelium, but live on the sur- 

 face of the mucous membrane, to the detriment of the 

 latter. 



" Tschamer, of Gratz, working in the same depart- 

 ment of micro-pathology, has lately found, in the expec- 

 toration of pertussis, a microphyte, which he identifies 

 with a black mould which develops on orange-peel. 

 This he thinks that he has proved by different cultures. 

 Satisfied of the identity, he took some of the black 

 powder which constitutes the mould of orange-peel and 

 experimented with it on himself, inhaling the powder as 

 deeply as he could. At first no effect was observed, 

 but after eight days he began to have convulsive fits of 

 coughing, and expectorated the fungus in abundance. 



4fc He explains the phenomena of whooping-cough in 

 this way. After an incubation of seven days, these mi- 

 crophytes determine an irritation of the bronchi which 

 induces catarrh and spasmodic cough ; then, as the irri- 

 tation increases, the expectoration becomes more abun- 

 dant and eliminates the fungoid organisms. 



" Dolan, in repeated experiments, found that by in- 

 oculating rabbits with the sputum of whooping-cough 

 patients, he not only induced a catarrhal spasmodic 

 affection, "but the death of the animal generally ensued. 

 Inoculation with the blood of such patients was without 

 effect. This certainly seems to confirm the conclusions 

 of Letzerich, that the materies morbi, be it a bacillus, 

 or be it what it may, lives on the surface of the epi- 

 thelium, and does not get into the blood." 1 



i The Medical Record, February 17, 1883, p. 185. 



