H4 THE BACTERIA IN ASIATIC CHOLERA. [CH. 



growth in gelatine, and must therefore be different from 

 all others. 



I maintain that notwithstanding the fact that the choleraic 

 comma-bacilli in their mode of growth are not quite so 

 unique as is maintained of them, even when compared with 

 the few species that have already become known to say 

 nothing about the many species of comma-bacilli that may 

 be discovered if observations are continued and extended 

 it does not follow that they do not stand in a causal relation 

 to Asiatic cholera. If by clear and definite experiments, 

 imitating as much as possible the methods of infection obtain- 

 ing in nature. Asiatic cholera can be induced artificially by 

 a pure cultivation of the choleraic comma-bacilli, then it 

 must be considered as proved beyond doubt that they are a 

 vera causa, or, in other words, the contagium of cholera. 



In a subsequent chapter I shall describe and review all the 

 experiments that have been made in this direction ; for the 

 present I shall content myself with the brief statement that 

 such proof is not forthcoming, and that what has been given 

 as proof is highly unsatisfactory. 



No true cholera infection, as is understood in pathology 

 and as is proved with some other bacteria, has as yet been 

 produced ; all that has been hitherto shown is that the comma- 

 bacilli, like some other notoriously saprophytic bacteria, are 

 capable of producing chemical susbtances acting toxically, or 

 in some animals are capable of producing septicaemia. 



One thing, however, may be said with certainty, namely, 

 that as far as our limited knowledge at present goes, in no 

 intestinal disorder in man have comma-bacilli behaving in 

 artificial cultures like those of Asiatic cholera been yet found 

 in the intestinal evacuations. This of course does not mean 

 that no intestinal disorder exists in which the same comma*- 

 bacilli are not present to a similar extent as in Asiatic cholera, 

 for, as has been pointed out on a former page, our experience 



