IN INFECTED ORGANISM. 



of the multitudes of living particles resulting from 

 its division. 



2. The contagious particle or particles having 

 gained access to the fluids of the uninfected organ- 

 ism may absorb nutrient matter, grow and multiply, 

 and give rise to a progeny very closely resembling 

 the originals. 



In the first case the actual living matter of a 

 healthy organism is supposed to take upon itself a new 

 and peculiar action in consequence of the influence 

 of another kind of germinal matter upon it. In the 

 second the contagious material simply grows and 

 multiplies at the expense of the pabulum. 



It is open to discussion which of these two views is 

 supported by the greatest number of and most preg- 

 nant facts. I incline strongly to accept the latter 

 as the more probable of the two. 



It may, however, be fairly asked, when a pus cor- 

 puscle from the surface of the conjunctiva of a 

 person suffering from purulent ophthalmia, or when 

 a particle of gonorrhceal pus comes into contact with 

 an uninfected conjunctiva and grows and multiplies, 

 establishing a similar morbid condition to that in 

 operation upon the surface where it grew, whether 

 the multitudes of resulting pus corpuscles are the 

 direct descendants of the original specific pus cor- 

 puscle, or are derived from the bioplasm of the blood 

 or of the cells of the conjunctiva, which is modified 

 in consequence of its action upon it. 



It seems to me probable that the corpuscles capable 



