108 BACTEEIAL POISONS. 



germs ; but, after six weeks, a considerable quantity of 

 creatinine was isolated, and a smaller amount of methyl- 

 guanidine. The. latter is very poisonous, causing muscular 

 tremors and dyspnoea. The presence of methyl-guanidine 

 indicates that the comma bacillus acts as an oxidizing agent, 

 since creatine yields methyl-guanidine only by oxidation. 



Beieger succeeded in finding, in addition to the above- 

 mentioned ptomaines, which are common products of putre- 

 faction, two poisons which he considers as specific products 

 of the comma bacillus. One of these, found in the mer- 

 curic chloride precipitate, is a diamine, resembling trime- 

 thylenediamine. It produced muscular tremor and heavy 

 cramps. In the mercury filtrate was found another poison, 

 which, in mice, produced a lethargic condition ; the respira- 

 tion and heart's action became slow, and the temperature 

 sank, so that the animal felt cold. Sometimes there was 

 bloody diarrhoea. 



Beieger and Frankel found that the insoluble proteid 

 which they obtained from cultures of the cholera bacillus, 

 when suspended in water and injected subcutaneously in 

 guinea-pigs, caused death after from two to three days. 

 Section showed inflammatory swelling and redness of the 

 subcutaneous tissue, extending into the muscles for some 

 distance about the point of injection, but no necrosis. 

 There was no change in the intestines and no effusion into 

 the peritoneum. In some instances there were evidences 

 of beginning fatty degeneration of the liver. Upon rab- 

 bits this substance, even in large doses, was without effect. 



In endeavoring to obtain immunity in guinea-pigs against 

 cholera, Gamaleia employs cultures which have been ster- 

 ilized at 120°. Subcutaneops injections of these cause 

 transient oedema, and the animals soon recover. The high 

 temperature destroys not only the bacillus, but renders inert 

 certain " ferment-like " products. However, if the cultures 

 be sterilized at 60°, large doses (10 c.c. per kilogramme, body 

 weight) cause death, injected intravenously in rabbits, and 

 a less amount produces marked symptoms. The animals 

 refuse food, and a diarrhcea, which may continue for hours, 

 appears. Often there is cloudiness of the cornea and reten- 



