184 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE BACTERIA. 



or, by a little different mechanism, veritable em- 

 bolisms. 



A very curious fact was published not long since, 

 which supports this view. This observation is due 

 to Hjalmar Helberg (of Christiania). In the case 

 of a woman in whom the mucus membrane of the 

 uterus was found to be covered with a great num- 

 ber of micro-germs, the tissues of the eye pre- 

 sented a series of lesions, which microscopic ex- 

 amination showed to be due to the presence of 

 parasites. In the cells of the cornea, in the ves- 

 sels of the choroid and of the retina, were seen 

 veritable plugs containing bacteria identical with 

 the micro-organisms found in the genital parts. 

 The author admits that the ocular inflammation 

 had been produced by septic embolisms. 



I will not insist further upon the embolic pro- 

 cess, which is studied in another chapter of this 

 work. 



To sum up, I will say that, so far as the influence 

 of bacteria on wounds themselves is concerned, we 

 know as yet nothing positive ; since, as I have said, 

 we find these parasites upon the surface of solutions 

 of continuity which progress most rapidly and surely 

 to a cure. Better informed in regard to the gener- 

 alization of the process and the infection of the 

 organism by products formed on the surface of 

 the wound, we cannot dissimulate the fact that 

 much of our information is still upon the border- 

 line of hypothesis, and that it would be imprudent 

 to accept it yet as invariably settled. According 

 to all probability, we will find the key to these 



