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SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
but of constant occurrence in suppurative processes. The phenomena 
are easily observable in the infective maladies of man and animals, and 
occur both in the spontaneously acquired and in artificially imported 
diseases. Where the appearances are associated with special characters, 
the observations may possess diagnostic value. The cells in which the 
Schizomycetes were most frequently met with were polynuclear leuco- 
cytes. Much less often they were observed in mononuclear leucocytes, 
in epithelial cells (gonorrhoea), in bone marrow (osteomyelitis), and in 
peritoneal cells. By careful observations the author satisfied himself 
that the bacteria were inside and not upon the cells. In addition to 
the presence of the Schizomycetes in the cells, changes were observed 
both in the including cells and in the included bacteria. The changes 
affecting the bacteria were those of shape and size with loss of colour 
reaction. Changes in the cells affected both the cytoplasm and the 
nucleus. In both a diminution in staining capacity might occur. The 
nucleus might show great alterations of shape. The cytoplasm might 
become softened, and this degeneration went so far as complete vacuola- 
tion. These changes were apparently connected with living bacteria 
only ; for if dead cultures were used, then no retrogressive changes were 
observed in the cells. If the presence of bacteria in cells be so common, 
it would seem to follow that a specific diagnosis, unless the appearances 
were accompanied by some special criteria of shape and colour reaction, 
would be difficult from a microscopical examination. The author’s 
observations naturally recall phagocytosis ; and it would seem that the 
retrogressive changes seen both in the vegetable and in the animal 
cells afforded evidence of a struggle between the two ; but the fact that 
retrogressive changes were not found when dead cultures were used, 
must be taken into account. The preparations were stained by Inghil- 
leri’s method. 
Contagion from Books.* — In some experiments made by Drs. Du Cazal 
and Catrin for the purpose of testing whether contagious diseases can 
be transferred by books, the question was considered under three heads : 
do books contain microbes, and especially pathogenic ones ? can a disease 
be imparted through the agency of a book used by a patient suffering 
from a contagious malady ? can books be easily and effectively disin- 
fected ? The method employed was to soil books with morbid products, 
allow them to dry, and then cut out a piece and put it in sterilised 
bouillon. Portions of infected bouillon were injected into veins, the 
peritoneal sac, and beneath the skin of animals. The animals sickened, 
but did not die, and the organisms isolated were bacteria and moulds. In 
the second section five pathogenic bacteria were examined as to their 
capacity for transmission. Positive results were obtained with Strepto- 
coccus , Pneumococcus , and diphtheria ; the results with tuberculosis and 
typhoid fever were negative. Disinfection experiments were conducted 
with the vapour of formic aldehyde ; the results from this method were 
for the most part satisfactory ; but in application, especially on a large 
scale, it was found to present considerable difficulties. 
Disinfection in an autoclave was not only effective, but facile, and 
this method is strongly recommended. 
* Ann. Inst. Pasteur, ix. (1895) pp. 865-7G. 
