CASE OF SAECINA VENTEICULI. 353 



the condition of the organ standing in the relations of primary 

 causes of the whole complaint. But, whatever might be 

 supposed to be the cause of the presumed fermentation, it ap- 

 peared to me highly probable that, if it had really taken place, 

 it would be indicated by the remains of ferment-vegetables in 

 the ejected fluid. 



In the meantime, till I had examined the fluid more 

 minutely, I merely regulated my patient's diet. Animal food 

 was recommended ; vegetables and malt liquors were for- 

 bidden, and a little brandy was ordered in water for drink. 



I now proceeded to examine the fluid ejected from the 

 stomach, and in proceeding to do so, I expected, if I found 

 any vegetable form at all, to see some of the globular or 

 moniliform algae, which it now appears pretty certain are 

 concomitants of certain of the fermentations. What was my 

 astonishment, then, to find, in the first drop I examined, not 

 the vegetables I was led to expect, but numerous individuals 

 of a form, with allies of which the zoologist is familiar ! Drop 

 after drop exhibited the same specific form, with a precision 

 which convinced me that I had now to deal with an organism 

 which, whether animal or vegetable, was closely allied to 

 certain genera of BACCILLARI^E, and much more closely to the 

 genus GONIUM among the VOLVOCIN.E. 



Before I proceed with the history of the case, or with the 

 description of the organism which characterised it, it may be 

 well to state that, in addition to a few fragments and shreds 

 of undigested food, the ejected fluid presented the following 

 microscopic elements : 



1st. Fecula-cells, globular, ovoidal, and kidney-shaped, 

 with well-marked hila of attachment. Some of these cells 

 were transparent and empty, others were full of starch-granules, 

 and reacted powerfully with iodine. These cells were at first 

 presumed, and were afterwards proved by comparison, to be 

 nothing more than the remains of wheaten bread. 



2 A 



