Prof. H. J. Detmers on a Pathogenic ScMzopTiyte. 473 



the morlbid process. I therefore resorted to experiments. 

 Having found that any inoculation of a healthy pig with the 

 fresh pulmonary exudations of a diseased or dead animal in- 

 variably produces the disease in from three to fifteen days, or, on 

 an average, in six days, I concluded it might be ascertained 

 in two different ways (in a negative and in a positive way) 

 whether or not the Schizophytes constitute the cause of the 

 morbid process. If it were possible to free the Schizophytes 

 from every thing, and to transfer the same without any 

 vehicle whatever from one animal to another, for instance, 

 like a louse or an itch-mite, the question would be very soon 

 answered. But as that cannot be done, I had to get at the 

 facts in a more indirect way. I repeatedly charged two ounces 

 of an innocent fluid, at first pure and fresh milk, then boiled 

 milk, mutton-broth, afterwards water, and finally albumen, 

 with one drop of the infectious pulmonary exudation contain- 

 ing an abundance of Schizophytes. In about three days the 

 fluids thus charged (which, by the way, were kept at a suit- 

 able temperature) were found to be swarming with Schizo- 

 phytes identical in appearance with those found in the pulmo- 

 nary exudation ; and every inoculation made with these fluids 

 proved to be eflective ; but in most cases the attack produced 

 was of a comparatively mild type. To go further into par- 

 ticulars would take too much time ; I therefore have to refer 

 for particulars to my reports to the Commissioners of Agri- 

 culture. One thing, however, I must state. The fluid 

 transferred by each inoculation was less than half a drop ; 

 but this half drop contained innumerable Schizophytes, while, 

 as far as could be ascertained by careful microscopic exami- 

 nations, nothing else contained in the original exudation had 

 multiplied. Consequently nobody, unless he believes in the 

 power of Hahnemannian dilutions, will contradict me and say 

 the effect of the inoculations is brought about, not by the Schi- 

 zophytes, but by an unseen and unknown virus, or chemical 

 something, the existence of which cannot be proved. I was, 

 however, not satisfied with these positive results, and concluded 

 to try also the negative way. Knowing that it is impossible 

 to separate the Schizophytes from their vehicle, I tried to free 

 the latter from the Schizophytes, and resorted to filtration. 

 I filtrated the pulmonary exudations through half a dozen of 

 the finest filtering-papers obtainable, but found my effort to 

 be in vain ; for the filtrate, although freed from the Zoogloea- 

 masses and rod-shaped Bacteria^ yet contained numerous 

 Micrococcus forms. The filtrate was put in a vial with a 

 tight- fitting glass stopper; and when examined three days 

 later it contained a great many rod-shaped Bacteria and com- 

 paratively few Micrococci. I therefore filtered it again, with 



