ASIATIC CIIOLKKA. 105 



milling panel-cat in more than pepsin. This resem- 

 blaiuv to panereat in is further demonstrated by the fact 

 that its activity is increased by the presence of certain 

 clicinicals, such as s<xlinm carbonate and sodium salicylate. 

 That a diastatic ferment is also produced l>y the growth of 

 the bacillus was indicated in the experiments of BITTER by 

 the development of an acid in nutrient solutions contain- 

 ing starch paste. However, all attempts to isolate the 

 dia>tatie ferment were unsuccessful. A temperature of 00 

 destroys or greatly decreases the activity of ptyalin, and 

 this seems to l>c true also of the diastatic ferment produced 

 by the comma bacillus. But the formation of an ax-id from 

 the starch pre-supposes that the starch is first converted into 

 a soluble form. 



FERMI has succeeded in isolating the peptonizing ferment 

 of the cholera germ in the following manner : 65 per cent. 

 alcohol added to gelatin which has been liquefied by the 

 bacillus precipitates the proteid, but not the ferment. After 

 1 \\entv-four hours the precipitate is removed by filtration 

 and the ferment precipitated from the filtrate by the addi- 

 tion of absolute alcohol. After being collected on a filter 

 and dried the ferment is dissolved in an aqueous solution 

 of thymol and its peptoni/ing properties demonstrated on 

 gelatin tulx's. 



RrETscii Ix'licvcs that the destructive changes observed 

 in the intestines in cholera are due to the action of the 

 peptoni/ing ferment. 



CANTANI injected sterili/ed cultures of the comma bacil- 

 lus into the peritoneal cavities of small dogs and observed 

 after from one-quarter to one-half hour the following symp- 

 toms : (Jreat weakness, tremor of the muscles, drooping of 

 the head, prostration, convulsive contractions of the pos- 

 terior extremities, repeated vomiting, and cold head and ex- 

 tremities. After two hours these symptoms l>egan to abate, 

 and alter twenty-four hours recovery seemed complete. 

 Control experiments with the same amounts of uninferted 

 beef-tea were made with negative results. The cultures 

 used were three days old when sterili/ed. Older culture- 

 ~ en id I |r-s poisonous and a high or prolonged heat in 



