ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
351 
from tlie mouths of persons suffering from various diseases. The authors 
turned their attention chiefly to determining whether, in all morbid states, 
there was but one species, and whether the virulence of the Streptococci 
differed from those of the healthy mouth. It was found that Strepto- 
cocci from the normal oral cavity did not give rise to erysipelas or 
septicaemia ; while in ten cases of erysipelas there were three deaths 
(animals experimented on), one from septicaemia and two from 
erysipelas. In only one case of dfher disease did the cocci excite 
inflammation. By associating Streptococci from the normal mouth with 
other organisms, erysipelas, septicaemia, endocarditis, &c., could be set 
up in rabbits. From variola cases quite divergent results were obtained ; 
in three the Streptococci showed no pathogenic properties ; while in six 
others these organisms were extremely virulent. 
Streptococcous Infection.* * * § — According to MM. Monod and Macaigne, 
infection by Streptococci occurs as a septicaemia, in which, though the 
microbes are disseminated throughout the body, there are no obvious collec- 
tions of pus, and also as a pyaemia wherein purulent deposits are easily 
recognisable in different organs. Between these two forms stands a blood 
infection with a localisation in only one organ, and without suppuration. 
Streptococcous septicaemia may be primary, but is usually secondary to 
some other disorder, and for the most part occurs as a complication of a 
merely local Streptococcous infection. In another sense, septicaemia and 
pyaemia may be regarded as terms expressing greater and lesser degrees 
of virulence in these microbes. The invasion of the whole body from a 
local infection of Streptococci is, according to the authors, due rather to 
increased virulence of the microbes than to a diminished resistance on 
the part of the tissues ; for when mixed with certain other organisms 
(such as Bacterium coli commune , prodigiosus, Proteus vulgaris ), the 
evidence of this augmented virulence becomes manifest, as is frequently 
observed in septic wounds. 
The Plague and its Microbe.']' — Dr. Netter demonstrates the con- 
tagious nature of the plague. The microbe which causes it is remarkable 
for its polymorphism ; when cultivated in the usual solid media, it mainly 
preserves the same form as in the glandular pulp of the bubo ; but the 
short rods are also seen to be accompanied by round figures like cocci, 
and elongated bacilli. In liquid culture-media it forms little chains of 
several members placed end to end. Often at the extremity or in the 
middle of the chaplet is seen a large, very deeply stained sphere. On 
gelatin the microbic colonies are white, at first transparent, but later on 
they present a more opaque and yellowish centre. The microbe is very 
deadly to rodent mammals. It may be transported by flies w T hich die 
during an epidemic, for the specific bacillus may be recognised in 
their alimentary canals. 
Formalin Test for the Bacillus of Enteric Fever.f — Dr. R. Abel 
has repeated the experiments with formalin on cultures of Bacillus 
typhosus, on the same lines as Schild,§ and has come to the conclusion 
* Rev. de Chirurgie, xiv. (1894) pp. 81-106. 
jC f Brit. Med. Journ., No. 786 (1895) p. 48. 
t Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., xvi. (1894) pp. 1041-6. 
§ See this Journal, 1894, p. 268. 
