WHAT WE BREATHE 39 



M. Bambas, who brought his observations before 

 the International Congress of Hygiene at Buda- 

 Pesth, was convinced from the inquiries he made 

 that this outbreak of typhoid was due to the dis- 

 turbance of the soil and the dissemination by 

 means of the wind of typhoid-dust-particles to 

 certain parts of the city. 



That this hypothesis is by no means without 

 experimental justification is shown by the pro- 

 perties possessed by the typhoid bacillus in regard 

 to its vitality in soil which have been discovered. 

 Thus numerous investigators have studied the 

 important question of the behaviour of this micro- 

 organism in soil, and have found that it can exist 

 over periods extending from three to twelve or 

 more months in the ground. This property of 

 the typhoid bacillus may possibly explain the 

 appearance over and over again of typhoid fever 

 in particular localities, suggesting that the bacteria 

 had become indigenous in the soil. 



Dr. Mewius, of Heligoland, describes an epidemic 

 of typhoid fever in the island, concerning which 

 he made a most searching and elaborate inquiry. 

 It appears that a case of typhoid occurred and 

 was concealed from the medical authorities, so 

 that no steps for disinfection could be taken in 

 the first instance ; and, following the primitive 

 custom which prevails on the island, the dejecta 



