540 MICRO-ORGANISMS AND DISEASE [chap. 



A further instance in which the transformation of a com- 

 mon saprophyte into a specific or pathogenic organism has 

 been experimentally achieved, or I should rather say has 

 been stated to have been achieved, is the jequirity bacillus. 

 In 1882 the well-known ophthalmologist M. L. de Wecker 

 in Paris drew attention to the therapeutic value of the seeds 

 or beans of Abrus precaforius, a leguminosa common in 

 India and South America. The people of Brazil use it 

 under the name jequirity as a means to cure trachoma, or 

 granular lids. De Wecker after many experiments found 

 that a few drops of an infusion made of these seeds causes 

 severe conjunctivitis, in the course of which, no doubt, 

 trachoma is brought to disappearance and cure, and it is 

 accordingly on the Continent and in this country now used 

 for this therapeutic object. [I was informed by the late 

 Dr. T. Lewis, formerly of India, then pathologist at the 

 Netley Army Medical School, that the people in some parts 

 of India know the poisonous properties of these seeds, 

 and use them for inoculating cattle subcutaneously ; in 

 consequence a severe inflammation is set up, and the 

 animals die of some sort of septicaemia. This is done for 

 the sake of simply obtaining the hides of the beasts.] 



Sattler, in a very important and extensive research ( Wiener 

 medic. Wochenschrift, N. 17-21, 1883, and Klin. Monatsbl. f. 

 Augenheilk. June 1883), ascertained that when an infusion of 

 the jequirity seeds is made of the strength of about half per 

 cent, this infusion after some hours to a few days contains 

 numerous bacilli, motile, capable of forming spores, and in 

 most respects identical with the bacillus mesentericus. The 

 bacilli are about 0^00058 mm. thick, and from 0-002 to 

 o'oo45 mm. long. They form a pellicle on the surface of 

 the infusion, and in the bacilli of this pellicle active spore 

 formation is going on. The bacilli grow and multiply well 



