SYPHILIS 195 



1886 that they had succeeded in cultivating from the blood 

 of syphilitic patients a bacillus much resembling the bacillus 

 of tubercle, but which grew readily on blood serum, forming 

 a thin, yellowish-brown layer. 



In the same year Disse and Tagucchi claimed to have dis- 

 covered a diplococcus which they were able to grow on 

 artificial media, and with which they were able to produce 

 a disease in animals which they considered analogous to 

 syphilis. 



The discovery of the bacillus of syphilis is also claimed 

 by Dr. Van Neissen,* of Wiesbaden-, who has described a 

 micro-organism in the blood of syphilitic patients, which he 

 finds most frequently as a diplo-bacillus. The two rods 

 are not in a straight line, but inclined to one another at 

 an acute angle, presenting a V-shaped appearance. The 

 remarkable feature about this reported discovery is that 

 he finds the bacillus when submitted to subculture exhibits 

 other forms and produces mycelial threads and spores. 

 The organism is said to liquefy gelatine, but to grow best 

 on blood serum. The entire account of the discovery 

 seems highly improbable. 



It is stated that in the reign of Eadama VI., King of 

 Madagascar, a French physician. Dr. Mailloux, subjected 

 the slaves of the king, some 2,000 in number, to a pre- 

 ventive inoculation. Unfortunately the process communi- 

 cated the disease to the entire number. 



An admirable article, entitled ' The Social Evil and the 

 Propagation of Venereal Disease,' appeared in the Lancet 

 of February 1, 1896, in which attention is called to the 

 great benefits that are derived from the systematic inspec- 

 tion of prostitutes, and the evils that must arise from want 

 of regulations or supervision of any kind. To be convinced 



* Lancet, January 4, 1896. 



