578 BACTERIA IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



CHOLERA ASIATICA. 



The etiological relation of Koch's "comma bacillus" to cholera is 

 now generally accepted by bacteriologists and pathologists. But 

 recent researches show that Spirillum cholera Asiatics (No. 180) 

 does not always present identical biological characters when obtained 

 from different cases of epidemic cholera; and that very similar 

 spirilla are sometimes found as saprophytes in river water, and in 

 the alvine discharges of healthy persons. We call attention to the 

 fact that these cholera-like spirilla have for the most part been found 

 in Europe, where epidemic cholera has been widely diffused during 

 the past few years. It is probable that a considerable number of 

 them, at least, are saprophytic varieties of the genuine cholera spiril- 

 lum. 



CHOLERA INFANTUM. 



The researches of Booker and of Jeffries do not support the idea 

 that cholera infantum is due to the presence of a specific micro- 

 organism in the intestine, but rather that the symptoms are due to 

 the absorption of toxic products formed in the alimentary canal, or 

 in the child's food before it is ingested, as a result of the multiplica- 

 tion and ferment action of various microorganisms, and especially of 

 certain putrefactive bacteria. The common putrefactive bacillus, 

 Proteus vulgaris, and other species nearly related to this, were found 

 by Booker in a considerable proportion of his cases, and he is dis- 

 posed to believe that these putrefactive bacteria play an important 

 part in the development of the morbid phenomena which characterize 

 the disease. Jeffries, after reviewing the various theories which 

 have been advanced in explanation of the etiology of cholera in- 

 fantum, says : " Bacteria I believe to be at the bottom of the disease 

 that is, rule bacteria out of all foods and the alimentary canal, and 

 summer diarrhoea would cease to be." Upon another page of bis 

 memoir he says : " Passing a step further, the symptoms, pathology, 

 and etiology of summer diarrhoea stand in close relationship with 

 the group of symptoms first clearly brought to light by Panum as 

 putrid infection. The animals poisoned by the injection of putrid 

 fluids, sterile or not, sicken and die with two variable groups of 

 symptoms: one referable to the nervous system, the other to the in- 

 testines, diarrhoea being a prominent symptom, and the autopsy re- 

 vealing inflammatory changes in the intestine." 



CHOLERA NOSTRAS. 



What has been said above with reference to cholera infantum 

 applies as well to cholera uostras. This has not been shown to be 



