1887.] 
Dr A. B. Griffiths on Micro-Organisms. 
55 
been done to prove that if consumption is curable at all, it must 
be done by injection methods of some germicide, either in the 
gaseous or in the liquid condition. It will he remembered that the 
concluding words of my first paper on this subject {Proc. Roy. Soc. 
Edin.. vol. xiv. p. 97) were the following: — 
“ I have reason to conclude that it may he, with a more extended 
study of the action of this solution of salicylic acid upon disease 
‘ germs ’ and their organisms, we have the most rational mode of 
treating those contagious diseases whose seat of energy is in the 
blood.” 
Perhaps a better germicide than salicylic acid may be discovered, 
yet it is the principle of the method that is so important. In every 
case of disease produced by living microbes residing in the blood 
the most rational and scientific method of treating such diseases 
would be to destroy the microbes in situ by injections. "When the 
microbes are destroyed, nature will have a chance of repairing the 
damage done. It is with this end in view, that forms the basis of 
the present researches, and of my method for treating contagious 
diseases. 
The germicides used in connection with my experiments upon 
Sarcina lutea, Micrococcus prodigiosus, Micrococcus tetragonus, all 
destroy Bacillus tuberculosis. In fact, I may say that Mr Wm. 
Thomson’s* sodium fluosilicate is a very powerful germicide. 
According to Mr Thomson, F.E.S.E., it is not poisonous, and is 
inodorous. A saturated aqueous solution contains 0*61 per cent, 
of the salt. It does not irritate wounds, and it has “ greater anti- 
septic power for animal tissues than one part of mercuric chloride 
in 1000 of water : which is a stronger solution than that which 
can be generally employed for surgical purposes without producing 
poisonous effects ” (Thomson). 
(h) The Kolisdier Treatment of Consumption. 
In passing I wish to record here, that in June 1887, there were 
accounts given in the newspapers that Dr Kolischer had recently 
presented a paper to the Vienna Society of Physicians, on a pro- 
posed method for treating and curing consumption and other 
* A paper read before the British Association, August 1887, and published 
in the Chemical News, vol. Ivi. p. 132. 
