314 
granted the sum of 20,000 yens ($10,000) for 
the building and equipment of the Institute, 
and also yearly the subsidy of 15,000 yens, 
which was to be continued for three years. 
At the expiration of the term the same sub- 
sidy has been renewed for the same num- 
ber of years. Thus the Institute has no re- 
lation with the Imperial University of To- 
kio and is directly under the patronage of 
the Minister of the Interior. 
The work of the Institute is divided be- 
tween the scientific and clinical depart- 
ments; the scientific department is subdi- 
vided into the laboratory for original re- 
searches and the didactic branch for the 
postgraduate course in practical bacteri- 
ology. 
(a) Laboratories for Original Researches. 
It is here that Dr. Kitasato continues his 
investigations, and I take this opportunity - 
to recapitulate some of the more important 
reports issued from his laboratory. 
(1) Tsutsugamushi.—This malady, which 
is endemic in certain parts of this country, 
presenting the clinical feature resembling 
that of the typho-malarial fever, has been 
ascertained to be the pathological condition 
due to the parasitic invasion of the red 
blood corpuscles analogous to that which 
obtains in malaria. Moreover, the plasmo- 
dia of tsutsugamushi is described as being 
morphologically very nearly related to that 
found in malaria, but differing from the 
latter parasites in this important respect : 
viz., that the tsutsugamushi parasites are 
refractory to all the staining procedure now 
in use. 
(2) Bacillus Pestis.—The discovery of the 
plague bacilli is too well known to need 
mentioning in this connection were it not 
for the fact that it seems to be utterly un- 
known to the world that the bacilli claimed 
to be the specific germ of the plague by Dr. 
Yersin is absolutely different from that de- 
scribed by Dr. Kitasato. Dr. Kitasato’s ba- 
cilli are almost exactly like those of chicken 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Von. VI. No. 139. 
cholera (in shape), 7. e., each bacillus pre- 
sents the appearance of a pair of diplococci, 
and is, as a rule, considerably smaller than 
Dr. Yersin’s bacillus. Kitasato’s bacilli can 
be stained according to Gram’s methode, 
while the other is decolorized by the regular 
procedure. Kitasato’s bacillus is surrounded 
by a distinct capsule which is wanting with 
Yersin’s. Moreover, Kitasato’s bacilli are 
motile, but Yersin’s bacilli are not. There 
are thus at present two distinct bacilli held 
to be the eetiological factor of the disease in. 
question. It is to be hoped that the mem- 
bers of the commission sent out to Bombay 
will help to clear up the confusion. 
(3) Anti-diphtheritic serum.—The prepara- 
tion of the serum has been carried on in 
this Institute previous and up to the open- 
ing of the Imperial Government Serum In- 
stitute, in June, 1896. I might mention in 
this connection that Dr. Kitasato is the 
chief advisor of the Serum Institute. 
(4) Anti-cholera serum.—I have had oc- 
casion elsewhere to make a brief report of 
Kitasato’s work on this subject (Brit. Med. 
Jour., July, 1896). I shall only mention 
here that the result was in so far encourag- 
ing that it justifies making further trials. 
of this remedy in the future epidemics. 
Neither shall I enter into detail concerning 
the experimental part of the work in which 
Dr. Kitasato seeks to prove the anti-toxic 
property of the cholera-serum; suffice it to 
say that the conclusion he has reached is 
at variance with that of the Berlin school. 
(5) Lepra.—Dr. Kitasato has been engaged 
in the most thoroughgoing investigation in- 
to the treatment of leprosy. It is reported 
that he isin possession of the remedy which 
goes under the name of ‘Leprine,’ though I 
am unable to say that its preparation is, in 
any way, analogous to that of tuberculine, 
as its name seems to suggest. It is ex- 
pected that Dr. Kitasato will favor the 
world by publishing his full report in the 
near future. 
