370 



INFECTIVE DISEASES. 



The occurrences of cases and deaths were : — 



In 640 umnocuLited 120 cases (18-75 %), 79 deaths (12-34 %). 



In 133 inoculated 18 cases (13-53 %), 13 deaths (9-77 %). 



These results were, it is said, due to the weakness of the vaccines 

 procurable at that period of the work, and to the small doses used. 



There wei-e a great many records kept of the results of inocula- 

 tion of coolies on tea estates in different localities. After a summai-y 

 of the results Haffkine concludes, in his Report to the Government 

 of India, that, in his opinion, the experimental stage was not yet 

 in so advanced a condition as to be comjjletely closed ; but that 

 the observations made and records collected justified steps being 

 taken to give the inoculations a more 

 extended trial. 



Cholera Nostras. 



Cholera nostras, English cholera, or 

 English dysentery, produces an inflamma- 

 tion of the mucous membrane of the 

 bowels with croupous exudation. The 

 large intestine is commonly affected, and 

 the mucous membrane may be covered 

 with small superficial ulcers. The disease 

 is associated with severe diarrhcea. 



Finkler and Prior obtained a comma- 

 bacillus from the evacuations, which they 

 believed to be identical with the comma- 

 bacillus found by Koch in Asiatic cholera. 

 Koch pointed out that there were marked 

 differences in the biological character of 

 the two micro-organisms. 



Spirillum Finkler-Prior {Comma- 

 bacilhisin Cholera nostras). — Curved rods, 

 thicker than the comma-bacillus of Koch, 

 and spirilla. The colonies on plate- 

 cultivations are very much larger than 

 those of the comma-bacillus of Koch of the same age. They have a 

 very faint yellowish-brovm tinge, a well-defined border, and a distinctly 

 granular appearance. They liquefy nutrient gelatine very rapidly, 

 so that the first plate of a series is, as a rule, completely liquefied on 

 the day following inoculation, and the second plate in two or thi-ee 

 days more. In a test-tube cultivation in nutrient gelatine the 

 appearances are especially characteristic : the gelatine is very rapidly 



1 

 1 



II iii||i 



Fig. 159.— Pure-cultivation 

 OF THE Spirillum Finklek- 

 Pkiok, in Nutkie.xt Gela- 

 tine. In thirty-six hours. 



I 



