122 Researches Regarding Cholera. [part i. 



the early part of the night, and a post-raortem examination was performed on the 

 following morning. 



On opening the abdomen, the peritoneum was found to be extremely congested, 

 and the cavity contained a considerable amount of sero-sanguinolent fluid. A pre- 

 paration of this fluid was mounted in a wax-cell as usual and examined about an hour 

 afterwards. It was then found to be swarming with very active bacteria, and to 

 contain a few red blood-corpuscles, together with numerous small pyoid corpuscles in 

 a state of disintegration. When again examined, after the lapse of a few hours, the 

 bacteria were observed in unimpaired activity, and the breaking up of the pyoid 

 corpuscles appeared to be progressing rapidly, many of them containing from one to 

 three granular rings or Nuclei in their interior ; whilst in many such cells the molecules 

 between the rings or Nuclei and the outer pellicle were in active swarming motion. 



On the following day almost all the corpuscles had disappeared or had become 

 uniformly granular, and the movements of the bacteria had become more sluggish. 

 The preparation was kept under observation for several days ; but the only further 

 changes observed to take place in it were a progressive disintegration of the granular 

 corpuscles and a gradual diminution in the activity of the bacteria. 



The intestines were coated internally with a sanguineous layer of a deep prune- 

 juice colour. The rest of the abdominal viscera appeared to be unafl'ected. On opening 

 the thorax, there was found to be no pleurisy ; the pleural cavities contained no fluid, 

 and the lungs were quite healthy. The pericardium was injected and contained reddish 

 serous fluid. The heart was normal. 



A preparation of blood from the right ventricle was mounted, as usual, in a wax- 

 cell. When examined, about an hour afterwards, nothing abnormal was detected in it. 

 After the lapse of a few hours, the preparation was again examined. Crystals had 

 begun to form along the margin ; there was only a narrow ring of free serum, and 

 very few white corpuscles were visible. At first no monads or bacteria could be 

 detected ; but a rapid development of very delicate vibriones took place, whilst the 

 preparation was under observation. They were elongated, of extreme tenuity and of 

 great activity. On the following day the serum was swarming with the bodies described 

 above. They remained very active, and their delicacy was so great as to necessitate 

 most careful management of the light, in order to render them visible. No further 

 development occurred; and the only charges subsequently observed were gradual 

 diminution in the activity of the vibriones together with breaking up of the small 

 number of white cells present in the serum. 



Experiment LXXIV. — Whilst the post-mortem examination described in the 

 previous experiment was being performed, a syringe was filled with the fluid contained 

 in the peritoneal cavity, and another powerful pariah having been subjected to the 

 influence of chloroform, about one ounce of this fluid was injected into the abdomen. 

 During the operation, respiration and circulation ceased for a short time, but they 



