887.] 
Dr A. B. Griffiths on Micro-Organisms. 
53 
into a little glass cell (fig. 11), containing upon the internal surface 
of the cover-glass (A) a drop of sputum. 
After allowing the gases to pass through the little cell, the cover- 
slip was then transferred to sterilised blood serum, and after an 
incubation of twenty-six days no growths of the Bacillus tuber- 
culosis (or putrefactive microbes) made their appearance. This 
experiment was repeated in duplicate with the same results. 
The sputa used were obtained from Mr Snodgrass and Dr Wood 
of Bromsgrove. Dr Wood’s tube came to me labelled ’‘^Expec- 
torated^ May 29, 1887. Girl named Miss Green-White. Incipient 
phthisis ; night siveats, and harsh breathing under the clavicles.'^ An 
examination of this specimen of sputum gave numbers of bacilli 
(fig. 12). 
From the above experiments, I have reason to conclude that 
Bergeon’s sulphuretted hydrogen gas is a destroyer of the vitality of 
Bacillus tuberculosis and its spores. 
{a) The Case of Mr Snodgrass. A practical Trial of the Bergeon 
and Griffith^ Methods of treating Phthisis. 
Mr John Snodgrass, jun., of Glasgow, wrote to me in February 
of the present year (1887), after reading an abstract of my paper 
(read before your Society on January 31, 1887) in the Glasgoio 
Fig. 13. — A = a tin vessel 
containing water (which is 
kept near its boiling point) ; 
B = a small vessel capable 
of floating in water. This 
vessel contains tincture of 
iodine (J oz. of tincture of 
iodine and ^ oz. of water 
are used every time); C = 
tube (of indiarubber) ; 
D = mouthpiece ; E = spirit- 
lamp) ; F = a tripod stand. 
Herald^ and from that day a scientific correspondence has been kept 
up between us. His case is that of lung disease of thirteen years’ 
standing, which became distinctly tubercular several years ago. 
Ever since the discovery of Koch’s bacillus, Mr Snodgrass has tried 
various devices (of his own) for destroying the microbes in his own 
