I 6o Researches Regarding Cholera : the Blood. [part t. 



In seventeen of the forty specimens, bacteria were present in the contents of the 

 glands, but these were derived from healthy dogs in no less than ten instances ; and 

 the only feature common to all the cases in which bacteria and allied organisms were 

 present, was that a certain interval of shorter or longer duration had elapsed between 

 death and the examination of the glands. 



The results afforded by an examination of the mucous membrane of the intestinal 

 tract were naturally not so uniform and well defined as those regarding the contents 

 of the glands. That membrane is exposed to portions of undigested and disintegrating 

 materials which are constantly more or less liable to contain bacterial elements and to 

 contaminate with these any specimens obtained from the surface with which they are 

 in contact. Nevertheless, even here important indications of the rapidity with which 

 -post-mortem changes may give rise to remarkable phenomena were not wanting on 

 investigation. Although on immediate examination of the mucous membrane few 

 bacteria and none of the large serpentine vibriones (previously described as occurring in 

 preparations of the blood and the contents of the glands) were to be found, yet, when 

 a period had elapsed between the death of the animal and the examination of the body, 

 the extent to which such organisms had developed and invaded the tissues was most 

 remarkable. This condition, as in the previous cases, occurred without reference to 

 the cause of death — no matter, whether the animal had died owing to the introduction 

 of organic fluids into the system or had been killed whilst in perfect health. 



The two following cases are selected as examples of the phenomena present in 

 such cases, and of the coincidence of the occurrence of a development of vibriones in 

 the mucous membrane of the small intestines, in the interior of the mesenteric glands, 

 and, in one of the cases, in the blood : — 



Case I. — A powerful healthy pariah dog was killed by means of chloroform at 

 8 A.M. of December 1st, 1873, and the body laid aside for twenty-four hours. At the 

 close of that period a post-mortem examination w^as performed, and the temperature 

 having been comparatively low (73°' 1 F.) decomposition was not at all advanced in so 

 far as the unaided senses could determine. Microscopic preparations were obtained 

 from various viscera, and were immediately examined with the following results : — 



1 . Reddish fluid from, the sac of the pericardium. — No red blood-corpuscles 

 could be found in this, but numerous elongated, motionless, vibrionic filaments were 

 present, in some cases showing one or more distinct joints. 



2. Blood from the heart. — This was firmly coagulated. It contained an abundance 

 of large crystals, and the red corpuscles were in great part disintegrated, but no 

 distinct bacteria or vibriones were to be found in it. 



3. Fluid from the interior of the mesenteric glands. — The cut surface of the gland 

 was of a dull, dirty pinkish hue. The fluid was full of molecular debris and oily 

 granules. It contained, in addition, numerous staves, thick, jointed, and in some 

 instances exhibiting characteristic active movements. - 



4. A scraping from, the clean surface of the mucous rnembrane of the small in- 



