HISTORICAL REVIEW 6 



ethereal sulphates in the urine; encouraging results were obtained also 

 by Winficld (1912). On the other hand, Rovighi (1892) showed that 

 lactic acid exerted only a slight inhibiting action, and Wintemitz 

 (1892) asserted that it has no inhibitory influence, whatever. 



Poehl (1887) noted that sour milk when ingested decreased intestinal 

 putrefaction. This observation was confirmed by Rovighi (1892), 

 Embden (1894), Brudsinski (1900) and Fischer (1903). Tissier and 

 Martelly (1902) stated that the chief agent in effecting inhibition of 

 putrefying bacteria is probably the lactic acid produced by the lactic 

 acid bacilli. Tissier and Gasching (1903) found that acid-producing 

 bacilli are able in a sugar-containing medium to arrest the growth of 

 putrefactive organisms, thus confirming the conclusions of Bienstock 

 (1899). 



The feeding of buttermilk to infants has long been a custom among 

 the peasants of Holland. Within a short time after DeJager (1897) 

 and Teixeira de Mattos (1902) brought this method of infant feeding 

 before the medical profession, the administration of buttermilk to in- 

 fants, especially those afflicted with gastro-intestinal disturbances, be- 

 came quite popular, and most favorable results were reported by various 

 investigators. 



From the earliest historic times the use of both sweet and sour milk 

 has been practiced by many Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic tribes. The 

 consumption of soured milk undoubtedly became popular on account of 

 its enhanced palatability and better keeping qualities. As the result 

 of long-continued practice in the preparation of the sour milk by 

 methods handed down from generation to generation the different 

 countries or tribes had their own established product, which differed as 

 a rule from those of other peoples. Among the best-known of these are 

 the kefir of the Caucasus, leben raib of Egypt, koumiss of Asiatic 

 Russia, matzoon of the Armenians, and yoghurt of the Balkan 

 Peninsula. 



Numerous instances are on record where persons lived and retained 

 much of their early vigor to a very old age, particularly in Bulgaria, 

 and where from all appearances they owed their long life to sour milk 

 which was their staple, and in many cases practically the only diet. 

 Metchnikoff was a close observer of these conditions which were being 

 brought to his attention by his students and others, and as a result of 

 these observations and further extensive studies he propounded his 

 lactic acid bacillus and longevity theory and founded his sour milk 

 therapy. 



Cohendy (1906a) performed experiments upon himself and thirty 

 patients, by feeding pure milk cultures oi B. hvlgaricus. He observed 

 a decrease in intestinal putrefaction which was noticeable for seven 

 weeks after the taking of the culture. In a second paper the same writer 

 (1906b) pointed out that B. hidgaricus becomes so thoroughly accli- 

 mated in the human intestine as to be found there several weeks after 



