88 



Researches Regarding Cholera : The Blood. 



[part I. 



Poat-itnorterrh rigidity was strongly marked. On opening the abdomen there were 

 found to be no signs of peritonitis. The small intestine was pale externally. On opening 

 it, it was found to be coated with a thick soft substance of pink hue. This layer was quite 

 loose, and easily removed from the subjacent mucous membrane, and was found to be 

 composed of detached epithelium. When it was washed off, the denuded surface of the 

 membrane became visible, from which only a very little material could be scraped, 

 consisting of imperfectly developed epithelial cells, and containing an abundance of very 

 long, uniseptate or jointless vibriones, lying motionless or progressing in a serpentine 

 fashion over the field, as represented in the woodcut (Fig. 1). 



For about six inches immediately above the ileo-coecal valve the gut appeared 

 quite healthy and unaffected, but everywhere else the epithelial coating of the mucous 

 membrane appeared to be detached. 



The mesenteric glands were soft, and not congested, but of a dirty yellow colour on 



Fig. 1. x500. 



Oscillatoria-like vibriones obtained on the mucous 

 surface of the small intestines and in the 

 mesenteric glands. 



Fig. 2. xoOO. 



Appearances presented by the bodies in Fig. 1 

 on the third day. 



section, and containing an abundance of fluid. A preparation of this fluid was mounted 

 in a wax cell and carefully examined an hour and a half afterwards. It was found to 

 contain an abundance of gland-cells, and to be swarming with elongated vibriones like 

 those present in the intestines, for the most part uniseptate, and either still or only 

 moving slightly. It was again examined sixteen hours subsequently, but no changes had 

 taken place in the condition of the vibriones, although the majority of the gland-cells had 

 broken down, and numerous clusters of fatty crystals had made their appearance. 



The large intestine was normal in appearance, and the remaining abdominal organs 

 were healthy. The stomach contained a little glairy fluid. 



On opening the thorax there was found to be no pleurisy. The lungs were collapsed, 

 the left one totally so, whilst the right was partially congested. The pericardium 

 contained a little fluid, and there was slight congestion of both the visceral and 

 parietal layers. The heart was healthy. 



A preparation of blood from the right ventricle was mounted in a wax-cell and 



