3^ Objects Seen in Cholera Evacuations. [part i. 



round cells of various sizes had developed, from a minute molecule, presenting a 

 brighter appearance than the ones in the field generally, up to cells with a diameter 

 somewhat greater than that of a red blood-corpuscle (Plate XVII, Fig. Ixviii). The 

 larger ones were seen to be surrounded by a distinct capsule, between which and the 

 contained protoplasm (which had a bluish tint) a little fluid seemed to intervene ; 

 this in certain lights presented a red tint. The hyaline substance altered its shape 

 occasionally within its capsule, but the movement was an exceedingly slow one. 

 In the cells a few grades smaller than the ones described, the protoplasm presented 

 a somewhat bluish tint, but of a yellowish-blue when exactly in focus ; they also 

 seemed to possess the power of altering their form, or rather to dilate and contract 

 very slowly. 



These molecules kept increasing in number and size. As a rule, the larger 

 they are, the more amorphous matter surrounds them ; that is, the larger the heap. 

 After this putrefaction set in very rapidly ; no further progress occurred, but the 

 whole became disintegrated. 



(6) A small portion of meat was placed in distilled water as above, and 

 thoroughly boiled for some time in a Florence flask ; filtered whilst hot into a clean 

 test tube (which had been previously subjected to the flame of a spirit-lamp); it ^ 

 was then covered, but not so tightly as to prevent the entrance of air, and placed in 

 the same compartment as the foregoing. 



On the second day it had become milky, and presented a slight film of a some- 

 what similar nature to the previous one ; little chains (leptothrix) interspersed 

 throughout the field, with a few monads and short vibriones. This appearance was 

 still more marked on the third day (Fig. Ixix). On the fourth day the linked fila- 

 ments were present, but the molecules (or micrococci) had increased in size, which, 

 with the short vibriones, presented great activity. On the fifth day the milky 

 appearance had diminished, but no change could be observed under the microscope. 



Little " heaps " now formed amongst the molecules, the fluid at the same time 

 clearing up, and towards the end of the third week the slight precipitate which it 

 contained not only presented monads, bacteria, and vibriones, but animalculse in great 

 numbers, which were seen at one moment elongated and very active, the next circular 

 and still (Plate XVIII, Fig. Ixx), very like the ones above described as occurring 

 in choleraic and other discharges. In some of these, however, one, two, or three 

 contractile vacuolse were observed lasting about three seconds, and about three seconds 

 absent. In addition to these, a few amcebae were present, with no contractile vesicle ; 

 probably an earlier stage. It was then set aside for a fortnight ; the animalculse were, 

 if anything, more plentiful than before, and when in the active or " still " condition 

 were not distinguishable from the ones described as being found in the stools, as may 

 be seen by reference to Fig. Ixxi, where, in addition, some green-coloured cells are seen. 

 The latter were not observed to develop into anything higher, although watched care- 

 fully on a slide for two months ; they simply increased in size and in number. The 



