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SCIENCE 



[Vol. V., No. 112. 



organism, and emphasizes its differences under culti- 

 vation from any of the other bacteria yet compared 

 with it, paying especial attention to the bacillus of 

 Finkler and Prior. To emphasize the difference still 

 more, he gives figures illustrating the different appear- 

 ances of the cultivations of the two organisms, and 

 the different ways in which they liquefy the culture- 

 material (nahr-gelatin). This work of Johne's is 

 of such special interest just at present, that we feel 

 justified in announcing that it may be purchased in 

 separate form of C. W. Yogel, in Leipzig. 



Buchner (Munch, arztl. intell., 1885, 549) finds a 

 constant difference between Koch's and Finkler and 

 Prior's organisms under cultivation, and adds his 

 testimony to the effect that confusion of the two 

 should be impossible. Doyen (Soc. biol., Dec. 13, 

 1884) gives an account of various forms of bacteria, 

 observed microscopically and under cultivation, in 

 seven cases of cholera. These were found in the 

 liver and kidneys; but as no data are given as to 

 when the post-mortem examinations were made, how 

 soon after death, etc., and as no inoculation experi- 

 ments are as yet announced (as far as we have seen), 

 the author is hardly justified, from these observations 

 alone, in heralding ' the end of the reign of the 

 comma bacillus.' 



Pettenkofer's challenge to Koch, for it really 

 amounts to that (Deutsch. med. woclienschr., 1884, 818), 

 has not yet been accepted, as, for various plain 

 reasons, it probably will not be. This was, in effect, 

 to produce twenty or one hundred volunteers besides 

 himself as subjects for experimentation, to allow a 

 preliminary gastro-intestinal catarrh to be produced, 

 and then to swallow any reasonable amount of a pure 

 culture of the cholera bacillus. Such a challenge as 

 this may be effective, but naturally is not scientific 

 for the reason that no such experiments can be carried 

 on with precision. 



Turning to subjects not immediately connected 

 with the discussion of the specific bacterium of 

 cholera, there have been some contributions to the 

 literature of the subject worthy of attention. Villiers 

 (Comptes rendus, 1885, 91) speaks of an alkaloid 

 (ptomaine) found in the cadavers of two persons dead 

 of cholera. It was found in notable quantity in the 

 intestines, and in much less amount in the kidneys, 

 liver, and heart's blood. It is liquid, has an acrid 

 taste, and a distinct odor of hawthorn. It is alkaline, 

 and an active base, set free by alkalies, but not by the 

 alkaline carbonates. Iodide of mercury and of potas- 

 sium give a white precipitate with its solutions and 

 those of its salts. Picric acid gives a yellow, and chlo- 

 ride of gold a yellowish-white precipitate. Concen- 

 trated solutions give a white precipitate with tannin 

 and bichloride of mercury, but chloride of platinum 

 and bichromate of potash give no precipitate. Ferro- 

 cyanide and perchloride of iron give a very slight and 

 slowly appearing precipitate. Sulphuric acid placed 

 in contact with the alkaloid gives a very faint and 

 quickly disappearing violet color. The chlorhydrate 

 of the alkaloid is neutral to litmus-paper. It crystal- 

 lizes in long fine transparent needles, which are ex- 

 ceedingly deliquescent. 



Then follow certain physiological experiments, 

 limited in number by the small quantity of the alka- 

 loid at command. The effects produced were a 

 remarkable variation of the pulse-beat, contractions 

 of the limbs, anorexia, and death in four days, of the 

 animal experimented upon (rabbit). Apparently the 

 author did not look for the reproduction of the pto- 

 maine in the body of this animal, — an experiment 

 which would have been of interest as tending to show 

 whether it were connected with the growth of any 

 special micro-organism. The author proposes to con- 

 tinue his investigations as to the occurrence of other 

 special alkaloids in acute diseases, especially in 

 typhoid-fever. He offers a pregnant suggestion in 

 this connection, that, if it turns out that these diseases 

 terminate by the formation of these poisons (pto- 

 maines) in the system, it may be possible to administer 

 antidotes continuously until the cause of their pro- 

 duction has disappeared, — thus, for cholera, the 

 continuous administration of iodine-water to form an 

 insoluble compound with the alkaloid; or, if this 

 prove too irritating, the iodide of starch might be 

 used. 



Riviere (Comptes rendus, 1885, 157) gives a short 

 statistical review of the cholera epidemic in Paris. 

 From Nov. 4, 1884, to Jan. 15, 1885, the dates of 

 the first case admitted and the last discharged from 

 the Paris hospitals, there were 1,080 cases, — 636 

 males and 444 females. From these a small number 

 must be deducted for errors of diagnosis. There were 

 587 deaths, or 54.15%. Of the men, 340 died, or 

 53.46%; and of the women, 247, or 55.63%. These 

 figures reduce the percentage, as given in Science (v. 

 33), somewhat, but at the same time show that the 

 mortality was no lower than usual in epidemics of 

 cholera, and certainly not so low as has been indi- 

 cated. 



Pouchet (Comptes rendus, 1885, 220) speaks of the 

 results of investigations upon the modifications under- 

 gone by certain secretions under the influence of 

 cholera. He worked upon the bile, the dejections of 

 the cold period, the urine, and the blood. He gives 

 some further account of the ptomaine spoken of 

 above, and a very interesting history of its poisonous 

 effects upon himself during its preparation. 



FROM SUAKIN TO BERBER. 



Since the repulse of the English forces on the 

 march to Khartum by the way of the Nile, attention 

 has been drawn anew to the possibility of construct- 

 ing and operating a railroad-line from Suakin to Ber- 

 ber. A line of some two hundred and fifty miles in 

 length would easily bring the produce of the Sudan 

 to a seaport. And the reasons why it has not been 

 constructed heretofore are stated to be, that ''Egypt 

 had no navy. The khedive did not wish to put the 

 key to the Sudan in the hands of the sultan, or of 

 England, or Italy; nor did he wish the commerce of 

 the Sudan to be diverted from the Nile valley." The 

 military necessities of the situation have now, how- 



