860 ON THE REAL NATURE OF DISEASE GERMS. 
years after its introduction into the first had taken place. 
Of syphilitic bioplasm there are different kinds, giving rise 
to different pathological affections belonging to the syphilitic 
class. Indeed, some facts render it probable that there are 
several different species or varieties of syphilitic poison, in- 
stead of only one or two. 
One very remarkable property of the poison of syphilis is, 
that it may be re-inoculated into the same organism over and 
over again, until inoculation ceases to produce any specific 
effect. As soon as this is the case, it is said the organism is 
t( protected.” But such protection sometimes cannot be 
procured until successive inoculation has been practised 
during several months, and, as has been remarked, the 
remedy is in many respects worse than the acquired disease, 
besides being, and on many grounds, quite unjustifiable. 
Living Disease Germs in Secretions . — The living germs of 
many fevers pass from the blood into the secretions. The 
urine, the secretions from the mucous membrane of the nose, 
mouth, stomach, and intestinal canal, contain them in large 
numbers. There is reason to think they may also escape in 
the secretion of the sweat and sebaceous glands. In the 
excrements there can be no doubt disease germs exist in vast 
numbers in typhoid fever, in cholera, and in some other 
diseases. Even in the milk, in the tears, in the saliva, they 
are present. Some of the living particles of contagious (?) 
bioplasm in the milk from a cow suffering from cattle plague 
are represented in my report, as well as particles of bioplasm 
and fungi in vaginal mucus from another animal suffering 
from the same disease. The spherical form, sharp, well- 
defined outline, and the high refractive power of the envelope 
of the fungi, positively distinguish them from disease germs. 
Living tubercle germs will not be considered as very closely 
related to the contagious particles which are the active agents 
in the propagation of contagious fevers. There is, however, 
reason to think that particles of living growing tubercle 
exist sufficiently minute to be supported by the atmosphere 
and carried long distances ; while there are many facts which 
are considered by some sufficiently conclusive to justify the 
opinion that tubercular disease of the lungs is at least in 
some instances contagious. And it is certain that the most 
recent observations in connection with the subject of the 
nature and mode of propagation of tubercle, so far from 
militating against this view, tend rather to support it. That 
tubercle is not eminently contagious is certain, while the 
probabilities of minute particles of living growing tubercle 
escaping into the air while it remains in the air-cells of the 
