1887.] 
Dr A. B. Griffiths on Micro-Organisms. 
49 
are the real cause of disease, the hypodermic injection method 
steps in, for many substances are known to interfere with the 
action of soluble ferments.* The destruction of the microbes 
prevents the formation of soluble zymases or alkaloids ; and any 
given contagious disease (under these circumstances) would he at 
an end. Nature would then have a chance of restoring to their 
“ normal standard the lowered vitality which enabled the microbes 
to get a footing.” 
X. Salicylic Acid, Natural and Artificial. 
In the present paper it has been shown that salicylic acid is a 
good germicide. The natural acid prepared from oil of winter 
green [Gaultheria procumhens) is a far more powerful germicide 
than the “artificial” salicylic acid prepared from sodium phenate 
(CgHgNaO). Hence, it appears from the above observations that 
the natural variety possesses properties which are not to be found 
in artificial salicylic acid. This fact supports Pasteur’s idea 
{Revue Scientifique, January 5, 1884) that organic compounds 
prepared by synthesis are not altogether identical with the natural 
compounds. “ Life ” brings into play asymmetrical molecular 
forces, while in the mineral kingdom and also in our laboratories, 
only symmetrical molecular forces come into play. Pasteur’s theory 
is summed up by M. Wyrouboff in these words : — 
“ Ces theories sont fondees sur une premiere hypoth^se, qui 
suppose les phenomenes naturels soumis a deux sortes d’actions ; les 
unes symetriques, les autres dissymetriques ; les premieres president 
a la mineralit4 et aux syntheses de nos laboratoires, les secondes 
appartiennent a la vitalite ” {Bulletin de la Societe chimique de Paris, 
vol. xli. p. :210, March 5, 1884). Pig. 9a represents microscopical 
slides of pure salicylic acid crystals deposited from alcohol and ether. 
XL The Treatment of Phthisis by Injection and other 
Methods. 
Before I come to my own experiments, I wish to allude to the 
work of others in the same direction. 
* Dumas, Comptes Berdus, vol. Ixxv. p. 295 ; Bouchardat, Annates de 
Chimie et de Physique (3rd series), vol. xiv. p. 61 ; Griffiths, Proc. Roy. Soc. 
Edin., vol. xiii. [No. 121], p. 527. 
VOL. XV. 9/6/88 
D 
