THE SUMMER DIARRHCEAS OF INFANCY. 95 



to be taken. Summer diarrhoeas can scarcely be attributed to these 

 anaerobic germs, and yet they cannot be regarded as altogether 

 harmless. 



Fliigge found and isolated twelve species of peptonizing bacteria 

 in market milk and three of these were found to be markedly poison- 

 ous to animals. Concerning the action of cultures of these bacilli, 

 the following statement is made : " The two days' old cultures of 

 No. I. induce in frogs, on the injection of two c.c. into the dorsallymph 

 Bone, first slowness of motion and reflexes, after one hour paralysis of 

 the extremities and complete loss of reaction, and after four hours, 

 death. Mice die after from five to six hours from the subcutaneous 

 injection of 0.5 c.c. With the exception of lack of voluntary 

 motion and tardiness of reaction, no symptoms are manifest. 

 Guinea-pigs, that have received five c.c. intra-abdominally, lie on the 

 side and have marked dyspnoea, the abdomen is retracted, and hand- 

 ling them causes pain. Death results after from four to seven hours. 

 Section shows hyperemia of the kidneys, and the peritoneal and 

 serous coat of the intestines are markedly reddened. Nothing else 

 of interest in found. Dogs drink the milk cultures with relish and 

 in large quantities. After one hour severe diarrhoea sets in with a 

 movement every five minutes. When fed with normal milk recov- 

 ery follows. 



" Two days' old milk cultures of No. III. induce in frogs and mice 

 no symptoms. Guinea-pigs and rabbits receiving intra-abdominal or 

 intravenous injections remain quiet in their cages, respond quickly 

 to irritation, but gradually recover. The cultures, when fed to 

 puppies, induce sharp diarrhoea and apparently severe pain in the 

 abdomen. One of the puppies showed on the second day progressive 

 exhaustion, paralytic weakness of the extremities, and a fall of tem- 

 perature. He died on the third day, and section showed hyperemia 

 of the kidneys, nothing else worthy of note." 



" Bacillus No. VII. injected in mUk cultures into frogs, mice and 

 guinea-pigs had no marked action. When the culture was filtered 

 through a Chamberland filter and concentrated in vacuo to one-fifth 

 its volume, it killed mice and guinea-pigs when injected in doses ot 

 0.6 and 5 c.c. respectively. Death, which followed in from six to 

 twelve hours, was preceded by dyspnoea and convulsive movements. 

 Section showed nothing characteristic. Even the unconcentrated 

 milk cultures acted powerfully when fed to puppies. After feeding 

 for one or two days, proftise diarrhoea set in, but disappeared the 

 next day. The diarrhoea was accompanied by great emaciation, 

 weakness of the extremities, and tottering gait. As soon as the 

 use of the cultures was discontinued, and ordmary milk given, im- 

 provement began and continued to complete recovery. Two puppies, 

 after recovery, were again fed with the cultures, and after a short time 

 the profuse diarrhoea with its accompanying symptoms reappeared." 



