PART I.] Hallier s Inference that Cholera is Due to a ' Fimgus. 5 



tissues. In the midst of these molecules larger ones were observed (Plate I, 5), which 

 have been figured in a still more advanced stage as torula-like formations at 6. This 

 condition being, according to Professor Hallier, the transition stage to the development 

 of the higher forms of fungi. 



A series of cultivations was carried out in order to prove that these bodies were 

 organically related to each other ; namely, that the irregularly defined cysts were advanced 

 stages of the cyst with sharp contour and well-marked spore contents ; that the circular 

 gelatinous-looking bodies were originally contained in capsules ; that the capsules had 

 been borne on a filament ; that the filament had originated in a " micrococcus " cell ; and 

 that the " micrococcus ■' had been derived from the disintegration of these gelatinous 

 spores. Portions of the discharges in question were isolated, and placed upon various 

 substrata — beef, starch-paste, slices of lemon, etc.— so as to supply the "micrococcus" with 

 other nourishment than the epithelium of the intestinal canal, the disorganisation of 

 which substance is, according to Professor Hallier, the prime cause of cholera. 



The results of these cultivations may be thus briefly described. During the first 

 two or three days the micrococcus rapidly increased in amount, and developed into 

 nucleated cells, which arranged themselves into chains, as already observed to exist to 

 a slighter extent in the original evacuation. In some cases a thin pellicle formed 

 (my coder TYia), which, on being lifted, frequently broke down into round balls like the 

 " micrococcus colonies ; " the torula-cells about the fourth day were seen to germinate, 

 the ends of the filaments having a linked appearance (6), which, continuing to grow, 

 presented the appearance usually seen in oidiwun lactis. In the course of a week 

 the filaments assumed a branched and sacculated appearance (Plate I, 7, 9), these 

 saccules or joints (termed " macroconidia ") being capable of germinating like the 

 spores. The spores were on several occasions seen to produce a peculiar form of 

 fructification, considered by Dr. Hallier to be degenerated Tilletia caries (smut), 

 (Plate I, 9), and on one occasion a spore somewhat like that of smut was detected 

 (sp) ; a few abortive attempts at the formation of spore-containing-cysts were also 

 seen. In a few instances, however (about the 9th day), the filaments were observed 

 to bear unmistakable cysts, some with the contained spores very evident (Plate I, 8), and 

 others in which this condition was less clear. 



The nearest approach to the development of the cysts, corresponding to those 

 in the discharges, which reminded the Professor so strongly of Urocystis, is figured 

 (Plate I, 10), and the germination of the same at Plate I, 11. 



The inferences drawn by Dr. Hallier from these experiments in a few words are, 

 that cholera is produced by a species of fungus belonging to the iistilayines or 

 smut group. This fungus is a polycystis, similar to that attacking the rye only in 

 Europe, but which the Professor believes attacks the rice plant in India ; grounding 

 this belief on the fact that, in the tissue of growing-rice plants watered with choleraic 

 discharges, bodies were detected which he considered identical with the cysts found 

 in the evacuations, thus accounting for the belief frequently expressed by the older 



