PART I.] 



Experiments with Fresh Choleraic Excreta. 



171 



With reference to the effect of boiling on the toxic properties of alvine discharges, 

 nothing very conclusive can be inferred from the observations suramarised in the two 

 foregoing tables. It is important, however, to observe that the intestinal canal in at 

 least two of the animals experimented upon was seriously affected, in consequence of 

 the introduction of boiled alvine discharge from a healthy person. 



The probable influence exerted by heat on such substances will be subsequently 

 referred to ; meantime it may be stated that, to the extent applied in the foregoing 

 experiments, it certainly does not appear to diminish or modify their toxic properties. 



2. — Experiments on the introduction of CHOLERAIC alvine discharges into 



THE BLOOD OF DOGS. 



The want of a sufficient number of experiments on perfectly fresh choleraic excreta 

 which we have previously referred to as occurring in our last report — an omission 

 regarding which more than one distinguished writer has expressed his regret — will, 

 we trust, be considered as satisfactorily made good by the publication of the following 

 account of twenty-three experiments on as many dogs. In ten of the experiments the 

 material injected into the blood was simply strained, and in thirteen the fluid was 

 first subjected to heat, then allowed to cool and strained before being employed. A 

 tabulated statement of the first-mentioned class of experiments is annexed : — 



TABLE XV. 



(a) — The Choleraic material introduced being Fresh and Not subjected to Heat. 



The material injected consisted of almost colourless 

 watery fluid. Death resulted in 5 hours, without 

 marked intestinal symptoms. Although the _post- 

 mortevi examination was conducted within 2 hours 

 after death, the stomach and intestines were enor- 

 mously distended with gas : the intestinal glands 

 could be seen very distinctly through the distended 

 walls of the gut. The mucous surface was disor- 

 ganized, and presented all the characters of acute 

 septic enteritis ; lungs collapsed ; the splanchnic 

 nerves and semilunar ganglia apparently unaffected. 



Temperature at the time of the operation 102° in the 

 vagina. Next day 104° in rectum, but 102° in vagina : 

 appeared unaffected till the fourth day, when it was 

 killed under chloroform. All the viscera were healthy. 

 The bladder full of urine (sp. gr. 1012), and the intes- 

 tinal contents quite normal. 



The fluid injected was nearly colourless (sp. gr. 1004), 

 and contained a few red blood-corpuscles. The dog 

 died in about 18 hours. The intestines presented the 

 appearance usual in gastro-enteritis. The blood was 

 crowded vrith crystals, but not a trace of bacteria 

 could be detected. 



