158 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BACTERIA. 



The experiments of Coze and Feltz, however, as 

 well as those which confirm them, lead us to 

 consider the constant presence of bacteria in pu- 

 trid blood as a great probability in favor of the 

 parasitic genesis of septicemia. 



There is a variety of septicemia which presents 

 the closest resemblance to that of which we have 

 just spoken ; namely, puerperal septicemia. The 

 preceding researches, with their consequences, are 

 all applicable to this form of septicemia, and ex- 

 plain to us its nature. This manner of seeing 

 seems to us justified by the labors of Orth of 

 Bonn, according to which the lymph and the 

 blood contain Micrococci in considerable numbers. 

 Klebs has verified the presence of the same 

 parasites in the putrid infection consecutive to 

 gun-shot wounds. Like the preceding authors, 

 Birsch-Hirschfeld recognizes in the liquids of 

 septicemia the presence of Micrococci, and does 

 not admit any other parasites. 



Charbon. — A malady in which the influence of 

 inferior organisms has been especially sought is 

 charbon. 



We will examine successively the results fur- 

 nished by experimental pathology and by clinical 

 observation, and will finish by a general discussion 

 of the nature of charbon. 



Although this affection has been known and 

 studied from the highest antiquity, and was de- 

 scribed by Chabert (1782), Gilbert (1795), and 

 many others, its parasitic nature has not long been 



