193 



cumanus) showed that the rapidity and severity of the symptoms 

 was proportional to the amount ingested. No positive results were 

 obtained from the bacteriological examination of the bodies. 



The ratin itself was sometimes found to be sterile, sometimes found 

 to contain several varieties of bacteria and fungi, but no one variety 

 was constantly present. 



The potency of the ratin was not altered by exposure to 100 C.for 

 one hour or 120 C. for five minutes. It was destroyed, however, by 

 burning to an ash. 



Identical poisonous results were obtained upon rats by feeding 

 them with "Scilla maritina cum bulbo rubro." 



Microscopical examination disclosed a small portion of a lamella, 

 identified as belonging to the Liliacise, to which family squill belongs. 



The authors conclude that ratin II is not a bacterial culture, but a 

 poison rendered more dangerous to persons and domestic animals by 

 the misleading statements of its makers. 



PATHOGENICITY FOR MAN. 



Loeffler rather took it for granted at first that his Bacillus typhi 

 murium was harmless for man. In order to remove the fears of the 

 peasants in his campaign against the field mice in Thessaly he fed 

 pieces of bread impregnated with the cultures to chickens, pigeons, 

 dogs, hogs, horses, asses, sheep, and goats. No ill effects resulted. 

 Further, some of the men who were distributing the prepared virus 

 ate pieces of the infected bread in the presence of all and, it appears, 

 suffered no ill effects. 



Up to this time Loeffler had made no human experiments, but 

 thought it improbable that his bacillus was harmful to man. He 

 considered this view confirmed by the fact that he and his companions 

 and still more so the peasants, handled large quantities of the virus 

 without thorough disinfection of their hands and suffered no untoward 

 effects. 



Since that time, however, several mishaps have occurred. In- 

 stances of serious sickness and even death have been attributed to 

 infection with the bacterial virus used for the destruction of rats. 



Further, there is practically no difference between the Bacillus 

 typhi murium and the para-typhoid bacillus which is the well-known 

 cause of meat poisoning, and the Bacillus enteridion of Jarbues, 

 which is associated with intestinal disorders. 



It is true that persons have purposely partaken of the rat virus 

 to prove that it is harmless to man; but it must be remembered that 

 persons have partaken of cultures of cholera, typhoid, and other 



a Loeffler, F.: Die Feldmausplago in Thcssalien und ihre erfolgreiche Bekampfung 

 mittels des Bacillus typhi murium. Centblt. f. Bakt., vol. 12, 1892, p. 1. 



