24 THE BACTERIA IN ASIATIC CHOLERA. [CH. 



cultivation of the comma-bacilli. I must however state here, 

 that stools more or less fluid and of a faecal character (i.e. not 

 simply watery fluid containing mucus-flakes in suspension, 

 but with finely distributed particles of faecal matter) never 

 contained comma-bacilli in conspicuously large numbers. 

 They were present amongst crowds of other bacteria, either 

 as isolated, slightly curved commas, as semicircular or 

 circular corpuscles, some conspicuous by their small size, as 

 -shaped or dumb-bell-shaped particles, and as shorter or 

 longer spirals. Only a few groups of them were present. 



FIG. i. FROM A PREPARATION OF FRESH MUCUS-FLAKES FKOM A CHOLERAIC 

 EVACUATION. 



Showing large numbers of comma-bacilli and a good many minute straight bacilli. 

 Amongst the comma-bacilli there are a few small semicircular ones. Magnifying 

 power about 700. 



(b] A much better insight into the distribution of the 

 comma-bacilli is obtained by examining the intestinal con- 

 tents taken directly from the small intestine, which of course 

 can only be done on making the post-mortem examination. 

 In some acute typical cases on opening the abdominal cavity 

 the small intestine appears much congested and distended, 

 and in its interior is present a grumous fluid not large in 

 quantity and of a brownish colour, containing amongst 

 particles of faecal matter mucus-flakes and small clots of 

 blood. In these cases the mucosa is streaked and dotted 

 with blood. In other cases of rapid death the whole of the 

 small intestine, including the upper part of the jejunum and 



