294 MICROZYMES AND FUNGI. 



important facts are altogether ignored. Nor is it more 

 probable, that the so-called microzymes, which ulti- 

 mately become bacteria and vibriones, but never, 

 according to Dr. Sanderson, result in developing fungi, 

 have anything whatever to do with the production or 

 propagation of contagion. It must be clearly under- 

 stood that the minute particles of bioplasm, described 

 and figured by me in 1863, and in the second part of 

 this work, are certainly not of the nature of micro- 

 zymes or fungi of any kind whatever ; they cannot be 

 called microzymes unless the meaning of the word be 

 completely changed. A microzyme becomes a bac- 

 terium. A disease germ has no connection with bac- 

 teria, microzymes or fungi, either as regards its nature, 

 properties, or origin. The particles figured by me in 

 1864 in vaccine lymph do not resemble the so-called 

 " microzymes " figured subsequently, and said to exist 

 in that fluid *. Some of Dr. Sanderson's illustrations, 

 described as active particles of vaccine, are, indeed, 

 sketches of bacteria or fungus germs, which have 

 grown in the virus after its removal from the vesicle, 

 and which may be regarded as accidental, and of no 

 importance whatever. So far from being the active 

 agents of vaccine or other virus, they simply indicate 

 that the fluid is undergoing post mortem change, and 

 is losing, if it has not already lost, its remarkable 

 disease producing properties. 



* Twelfth Report, &c. Page 232. Fig. i. 



