September 23, 1892.] 



SCIENCE. 



171 



But to the science of the subject. The cause of Cholera Asiatica 

 is the bacteria, or vegetable fungus, found in the body of those 

 dead from the disease and in the ejections and dejections of those 

 afflicted with it. These bacteria belong under the head of those 

 peculiarly fatal to mankind. It assumes the .shape of a comma, 

 i.e. (,), or an S-shape. It belongs in the diss Spirillce, i.e., 

 S-shaped, but has been described by Professor Koch as Komma ba- 

 cillus. ' Now this comma bacillus is found in the intestines of fresh 

 cholera-corpses and in the dejections of those ill with the plague. 

 This being the source of the disease, although not its origin, we 

 readily see that we must study its habits of propagation; its 

 physical characteristics upon certain organic matter; its behavior 

 on living material. Then we can scientifically regard its preven- 

 tion. 



It grows quickly upon a surface of gelatinous substances, and 

 renders it after a while fluid. Looked at by a strong glass, capable 

 of magnifying it 100 diameters, it looks like a funnel-shaped ring 

 curled upon itself at the edges, if the gelatine or glue has been 

 stuck with a needle.^ Upon the smooth surface of gelatine it has a 

 rosy shimmer. It requires a heat of the human body to grow, that 

 is, 98.5" F. (37*° C), so that it will not propagate at ordinary tem- 

 peratures of the room. It grows on potato parings and pieces of 

 bloody meat at 30° to 40° C. (86° to 104° F.), at 16° U. (61° F.) 

 it ceases to grow, at 10° C. (50° F.) it exists, i.e., is not killed 

 completely." Just here the nature of heat and cold may be no- 

 ticed. Cold, agreeably with most vegetable seeds or spores, 

 merely places them in a state of non-germination, particularly if 

 dry ; instances are easily brought to one's mind in a crude way by 

 the vitality of the wheat, barley, rice, etc., exposed to excessive 

 cold, while in a congenial temperature and moisture they grow. 

 Heat, however, when applied to the boiling point, destroys all 

 germination; because it is a i-apid method of degeneration. Fur- 

 ther, this comma bacillus is aerobic, i.e., requires air or oxygen 

 from the atmosphere to live. The bacilli are divided into classes 

 that are a)io-aerobic, semi-ana-aerobic (?), and aerobic, meaning 

 without atmospheric oxygen; sometimes requiring oxygen and 

 sometimes not free oxygen; the last as we have above stated. 



The method of discovering this commabacillus in the dejections 

 next engages one's attention. It is easily cultivated under aseptic 

 conditions upon a gelatine surface exhibiting the characteristics 

 spoken of above. It is colored by the method known to all bac- 

 teriologists, that of Professor Gram. 



Solution No. 1, a, watery solution of aniline oil; b, saturated ac- 

 coholic solution of Gentian violet, a is made as follows : — 

 Aniline oil, one (1) part ; 

 Distilled water, twenty (20) parts. 

 Filter. To the clear filtrate (it must be shaken and filtered until 

 clear) add 5 parts of the 6, i.e., saturated alcoholic solution of 

 pure Gentian violet, to 100 parts of a, aniline water, made above. 



After drying on a little piece of ulass, the dejecta of a patient 

 sick with Cholera Asiatica spread very thin, and then immersing 

 it in the solutions, mixed as above, for three (3) minutes, and 

 then for three (3) minutes more in a solution, 3, made as fol- 

 lows : — 



Iodine, one (1) part. Jolt' 



Iodide of Potassa, two (3) parts, V „ 



Distilled water, three hundred (300) parts. ) 

 until all color seems to disappear; then dry the little glass and 

 view under a microscope to 1,000 diameters; the comma bacillus 

 will be larger than an ordinary comma (,). 



When we really find this comma bacillus, then the patient has 

 the epidemic cholera. Upon this fact is founded all the advance 

 in our treatment of it. Here the scientific value of hygienic and 

 sanitary regulations becomes apparent. Pardon me just here for 

 referring to the recent work of Professor L. Brieger, the president 

 of the Medical Section of the Imperial Institute for Infectious Dis- 

 eases at Berlin, Germany, upon the immunity from the fatal 

 effects of Cholera Asiatica which he has been able to produce in 

 Guinea-pigs. The microbes of cholera, technically cultures, were 



' Berl. Klin. Wochenschr., 1884, Nos. 31, 32, and 32a. 



= Dr. Carl Guuther's Bakterol: Leipzig, 1890. PI. viii., Fig. 4V. 



' Bakterol: Diagnos: Eisenberg, Hamburg, 1891, p. 256. 



raised on agar-agar gelatine, put into peptonized meat-broth, and 

 kept upon ice several days, then injected into the Guinea-pigs, 

 about four cubic centimeters, for five or six days successively, 

 when they could withstand the cholera cultures which, when given 

 to other unprotected Guinea-pigs, quickly produced death.* Of 

 course, this immunity of the mammal, Guinea-pig, presents a 

 vista of relief by protection similar to that given to us by vaccina- 

 tion from small-pox, and promised by "Koch's tuberculin" in 

 the treatment of consumption (Tubercular Phthisis). "We look 

 forward to that day of scientific medicine. 



The careful, methodical German has been directed by his im- 

 perial officers to be very careful in personal hygiene and to ob- 

 serve to the letter the regulations in the case of those sick from 

 Cholera Asiatica, while the doctors have been compelled to care- 

 fully examine each case by the methods above given, and, if un- 

 able to do so, to send some of the diarrhoeal fluids to the district 

 poUce stations to be examined at once at government expense — ■ 

 so careful are they to determine what the disease really is. Then 

 the patient must be isolated, his nurses rendered strictly a-septic 

 before being allowed to leave the apartments, all the attendants 

 to be washed in solution of carbolic acid twice daily, and the 

 patient too. No eating, drinking, smoking, or anything in con- 

 tatt with the mucous intestinal tract, such as mouth or nose, al- 

 lowed in anyone except under strict an^j-sepsis. 



By this means it has been possible to prevent the spread of the 

 disease to another case, if discovered in time. This element of 

 unwell, but not ill, persons with Cholera Asiatica is the problem; 

 the half-sick ones damage to the utmost hygienic arrangements, 

 and bring disgrace on the attempts of " State" medicine to pre- 

 vent its spread. This brings one to the application in a'more ex- 

 tended sense of isolation or detention in quarantine of numbers 

 of people. This is a troublesome problem to successfully solve ; 

 it is now taxing all the wit and wisdom of our laud. We trust it 

 may be successful. 



'' The best disinfectants are: — 



1. Lime-water; a quantity equal to the amount of the stool and 

 allowed to cover and remain upon it one hour. 3. Chloride of 

 lime (small boxes) ; two tablespoonfuls on each stool and allow 

 to remain on it twenty minutes before cleansing the utensils, then 

 washed with lime-water. 3. A soft soap of potash, mixed with 

 5 per cent of crude carbolic acid solution. This to be used for all 

 vessels, clothes, clothing, both body and bed. 4. A one per cent 

 solution of carbolic acid for bodily bathing of patient and nurses. 

 5. Daily scrubbing the floor and furniture with lime-water, and 

 two hours afterward with a one per cent carbolic acid solution in 

 the patient's room. 6. A boiling of an hour of all clothing. 7. All 

 the shoes, effects, etc., in the room of a patient either afflicted or 

 dead from Cholera Asiatica shall be disinfected and not used for 

 ten days. 



The conclusion of the matter is: — 



Live carefully; keep away from those afflicted with the disease, 

 except specially pi'otected as aforesaid ; keep clean ; isolate the 

 patient and his attendants. 



Harrisburg, Penn., Sept 13. 



FLORIDA PITCHER PLANT. 



BY CHARLES B. PALMER, A.M., COLUMBUS, OHIO. 



Among the many curious and interesting objects which came 

 under my notice during a residence of several years in Florida, 

 none interested me more than an insectivorous plant (Saracenia 

 variolaris) which is common about Orange Heights, in eastern 

 Alachua County. I have no reason to suppose tbatit is limited to 

 this locality, but this is the only place in which I have observed 

 it. It is a modest plant, seven or eight inches in height, growing 

 in damp situations among the coarse grass of the pine woods. 



It bears a single radical flower, the most striking feature of 

 which is the style, which expands into a broad umbrella, entirely 

 enclosing the flower. But it is not of the flower, but of the 

 pitcher-like leaf that I wish to speak. 



■' Deutsch. Med. Wochenschr., 1892, No. 31 (Aug. i, 1892). 



•'' Regulations of Minister of Interior, Germany, Aug. 1, 1892. 



