1887 .] 
Dr A. B. Griffiths on Micro-Organisms. 
57 
tion was very marked in the mercury solution. This fact confirms 
Herroun’s investigation on the value of mercuric chloride as an 
antiseptic agent. 
XII. Bacillus tuberculosis a Parasite. 
From Dr V. Cornil’s researches {Bulletin de V Academic de 
Aledecine de Paris, 1883) it has been shown that Bacillus tuber- 
culosis is of a parasitical nature. The microbe is found in the giant 
cells of the tubercle, also in the colourless blood corpuscles ; and 
therefore it is to be detected in all organs in which a tubercle can 
he developed. It passes to the kidneys, and according to Babes 
{Centralblatt filr d.AIed. Wissensch., 1883, p. 145) has been found 
in the urine. Recently, M. V. Galtier {Comjptes Rendus, vol. 
civ. Xo. 19) has shown that whey and cheese from the milk of 
tuberculous cows often contain the bacilli of phthisis. He has also 
demonstrated that swine and poultry fed upon dairy produce of 
this character may contract phthisis. Their flesh may then in turn 
impart the disease to man. Galtier’s observations appear to explain 
the hereditary nature of consumption. It is apparently a blood 
disease of slow growth ; and if milk be a meffium in which the 
bacillus is capable of living its life-history, we can well understand 
a phthisical mother suckling her child giving the disease to the 
child. 
It will be remembered that Dr Klein has proved the presence of 
Micrococcus scarlatinae {The Times, 28th May 1887) in the milk 
of those cows suffering wdth certain diseases of the udders and 
teats. 
Therefore, if milk is a nutritive medium for infectious diseases, ' 
it would he better in every case to nearly boil the milk before 
using it. 
Conclusions. 
1. It has been proved beyond doubt that microbes are the real 
cause of certain contagious diseases. 
2. In many cases these microbes are capable of being destroyed 
by various germicides. Therefore, by further investigations, we 
ought to discover a germicidal remedy for such terrible scourges to 
humanity as consumption and syphilis. 
