ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 299 



Relations of Bacteria to Asiatic Cholera.* — E. Klein details the 

 results of an inquiry into the etiology of Asiatic cholera. He finds 

 that the theory of Koch as to the " comma " bacilli (really vibrios) 

 present in the mucous membrane secreting a chemical poison inducing 

 the disease is not correct. Neither the blood nor any other tissue 

 contains the comma bacilli or any other micro-organisms of known 

 character. The behaviour of the comma bacilli in artificial media is 

 not such as to justify their being considered as specific. They grow 

 well in alkaline and neutral media, are not killed by acids, and their 

 mode of growth in gelatin mixtures is not more peculiar than that 

 of other putrefactive bacteria ; they show marked difierences when 

 grown in different media, but not more so than the ordinary putre- 

 factive bacteria when compared in their growth with one another. 

 Koch overlooked that comma bacilli occur in other intestinal diseases, 

 in the mouths of healthy persons, and, as shown recently, even in 

 some common articles of food. 



The experiments performed by Koch and others on animals do 

 not in the least prove that the comma bacilli are capable of producing 

 cholera. The results are easier explained in a manner opposed to 

 that given by Koch. There is direct evidence to show that the water 

 contaminated with choleraic evacuations, and containing of course, 

 the comma bacilli, when used for domestic purposes, including drink- 

 ing, by a large number of persons, did not produce cholera. 



G. M. Sternberg, in a temperately worded summary of the con- 

 troversy, concludes " that in view of the contradictory testimony now 

 before us, we cannot do otherwise than consider the question still suh 

 judice, and wait patiently for detailed reports and additional experi- 

 mental evidence."t 



Microbe of Human Tjrphoid Fever. | — M. Tayou has not yet 

 succeeded in conferring immunity from typhoid poisoning on the 

 guinea-pig, rabbit, cat or dog ; pigs, on the other hand, are affected 

 by no inoculations, however strong ; the author thinks that this is 

 due to the long-acquired filthy habits of the pig, which have gradually 

 conferred on it immunity to poisons found in human excreta. 



The infinitely small organism which Tayou has obtained from the 

 blood of a man suffering from typhoid fever has several forms, and 

 seems to pass through several phases. It is rounded at the extremi- 

 ties, has a mean length of 0*00245 mm., and a mean diameter of 

 • 00049 mm. ; in the peritoneum of the guinea-pig or rabbit it gives 

 rise to new individuals which resemble it, but are of a little larger 

 size, 0*00318 mm. by 0*00072 mm.; in the peritoneum of the dog 

 they may become still more elongated, and take on the form of long, 

 very fine filaments, filled with spores. Although typhoid lesions 

 are generally very well marked, the preliminary symptoms vary 

 considerably with different animals. 



* Proc. Roy. Soc. (not yet publislied). See Nature, xxxi. (1885) pp. 354-5. 

 t Science, v. (1885) pp. 109-11 (2 figs.). 

 t Comptes Rendus, c. (1885) pp. 375-7. 



