THE MICROBES OF HUMAN DISEASES. 219 



ing their former virulence. They were, however, not 

 dead, since they were still capable of reproduction, but 

 only up to the third or fourth generation. It must, 

 therefore, be admitted that the free access of air given 

 by tracheotomy, may attenuate the virulence of the 

 micrococcus of croup. 



Too much cannot be said against the misuse of 

 emetics, which is, unfortunately, very common, since they 

 are readily administered by parents without medical 

 advice. A regular emetic of which the action is 

 much more violent than that of ipecacuanha should 

 never be given. The micrococci are only found in 

 the most superficial layers of the false membranes, 

 and when these are removed, an irritated and bleeding 

 mucous membrane remains, which had been previously 

 protected by the false membrane from immediate 

 contact with the microbes : these now pass without 

 difficulty into the blood. Thus the ground may be 

 said to be prepared and rendered more favourable 

 for the multiplication of the micrococci, which are 

 sown there afresh, and are reproduced with frightful 

 rapidity. 



The most effectual remedy has been prescribed by 

 Dr. Fontaine of Bar-sur- Seine. It consists in admin- 

 istering sulphurous drugs, in the form of sulphate 

 of calcium, so as to produce in the stomach a 

 slow disengagement of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, 

 which checks the development of microbes, or attenu- 

 ates their virulence. It need scarcely be said that 



