THE BACILLUS OF MALIGNANT (EDEMA. 441 



posure of one and one-half hours to 55 C. ; of twenty 

 minutes to 60 C.; and of five minutes to 65 C. 



" By drying at the temperature of the body under 

 access of air the poison is destroyed ; but by drying at the 

 ordinary temperature of the room, or at this temperature 

 in the desiccator over sulphuric acid, it is not destroyed. 



"Diffuse daylight diminishes the intensity of the 

 poison. Its intensity is preserved for a much longer 

 time when kept in the dark. 



" Direct sunlight robs it of its poisonous properties 

 in from fifteen to eighteen hours. 



" Its activity is not diminished by diluting a fixed 

 amount with water or nutrient bouillon. 



" Mineral acids and strong alkalies lessen its inten- 

 sity/' 



The chemical nature of this poison is not positively 

 known, but according to the recent observations of 

 Brieger and Cohn it is not to be classed with the albu- 

 mins in the sense in which the word is commonly used. 

 When obtained in a pure, concentrated form its toxic 

 properties are seen to be altered by acids, by alkalies, 

 by sulphuretted hydrogen, and by temperatures above 

 70 C. Even when carefully protected from light, 

 moisture, and air it gradually becomes diminished in 

 strength. When feshly prepared by the methods of 

 the authors just cited its potency is almost incredible, 

 0.000,05 milligramme being sufficient to cause fatal 

 tetanus in a mouse weighing fifteen grammes. 



THE BACILLUS OF MALIGNANT (EDEMA. 



The bacillus of malignant oedema, also known as 

 vibrion septique, is another pathogenic form almost 



