SYPHILITIC BIOPLASTS. 



There is reason for thinking that a single epithelial 

 cell may carry multitudes of active particles of 

 syphilitic poison, one of which introduced into the 

 blood or lymph of a healthy person would probably 

 grow and multiply, and give rise to pathological 

 changes characteristic of, and quite peculiar to this 

 particular poison. 



We know that the syphilitic poison may retain its 

 specific characters in the organism for years, from time 

 to time giving rise to local pathological phenomena, 

 which are characteristic of this kind of morbid 

 bioplasm. It is impossible from the facts of the case 

 to arrive at any other conclusion than this : that a 

 certain portion of the living matter remains in the 

 organism, and that under certain favourable circum- 

 stances this grows and multiplies, producing disease. 

 Particles of this virulent poison may be transferred 

 from the infected organism to a healthy one, and 

 contaminate it, even many years after its introduction 

 into the first had taken place. Of syphilitic bioplasm 

 there are different kinds, giving rise to different 

 pathological affections belonging to the syphilitic 

 class. Indeed, some facts render it probable that 

 there are several different species or varieties of 

 syphilitic poison, instead of only one or two. 



One very remarkable property of the poison of 

 syphilis is, that it may be re-inoculated into the same 

 organism over and over again, until inoculation ceases 

 to produce any specific effect. As soon as this is the 



