474 Prof. H. J. Detmers on a Pathogenic ScJiizophyte. 



the same result, except that the Micrococcus forms were not 

 so numerous after the second filtration as after the first. So 

 I filtered the exudation three or four times, each time through 

 from four to six filtering-papers, and at intervals of about three 

 days, till I was finally not able to detect any Micrococci in 

 the now limpid filtrate. Inoculations with this filtrate proved 

 to be inefiective. At another time (in the following winter) 

 I tried again to free pulmonary exudation from the Schizo- 

 phytes by means of filtration, but did not succeed. The 

 filtrate always after each filtration contained numerous Micro- 

 cocci. Whether in this second attempt I did not hit the right 

 time for my second and third filtrations (that is, a time at 

 which most or all of the Micrococci had developed into rod- 

 shaped Schizophytes or filaments), whether the temperature 

 was too low (the first successful attempt was made in the 

 summer) and therefore the development of the Schizophytes 

 was irregular or retarded, whether my filtering-papers were 

 not fine enough, or whether all these circumstances combined 

 made the filtration a failure, I do not know. An inoculation 

 made with this filtrate proved to be effective ; but the disease 

 produced was of a very mild character ; at any rate the ani- 

 mal recovered. 



If more proof is yet required that the Swine-plague Schizo- 

 phytes and nothing else constitute the infectious principle of 

 that disease (and it seems that the above facts, which have 

 been published more fully in my reports to the Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, are not deemed sufficient) , the following facts, 

 if not making it absolutely certain, will at any rate, especially 

 if considered in toto, to a great extent corroborate the asser- 

 tion that the Schizophytes have and must have a causal con- 

 nexion with the morbid process. 



1. It has been and can be everywhere observed, where 

 Swine-plague is prevailing, that the infectious principle floating 

 in the air is attracted and taken up by sores, wounds, and 

 even scratches, but does not enter the animal organism through 

 the whole skin and through perfectly healthy respiratory 

 mucous membranes. 



2. Antiseptics or medicines which are either directly 

 poisonous to the lower forms of organic life or destructive to 

 those conditions under which low forms of organic life thrive 

 and develop, and, among those antiseptics, especially carbolic 

 acid, iodine, hyposulphite of soda, benzoate of soda, thymol, 

 &c., have proved to constitute almost sure prophylactics. As 

 one of the conditions necessary to the development of Swine- 

 plague Bacteria, it seems that a certain degree of animal 

 heat has to be regarded. At any rate after and while the 



