INFECTIVE AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 
91 
found that the material filtered, when introduced in four times 
the quantity only gave rise to slight fever). In all the animals, 
inoculated with the mixed liquid and solid matter, swelling of 
the spleen with the peculiar production of pigment was found. 
(A summary of these researches has been published in the 
Practitioner .) From these researches two questions arise—Was 
the diseased condition identical with malarial poisoning ? and, Are 
we justified in concluding that the organism described is specific ? 
The observers answer the former question in the affirmative, 
for the disease, like malarial fever, has characteristic intermis¬ 
sions of temperature, but their temperature charts exhibit varia¬ 
tion only ranging 1J° C.—2°C., and the liability to accidental 
temperature variations in rabbits has already been noted. Also 
many of their patients died in thirty-six hours, or even in a 
shorter time, and therefore hardly gave any time for observations. 
Also they note the characteristic triangular form of the enlarged 
spleen, but this is often observed in chronic congestion, and 
the lecturer has remarked it in anthrax. With regard to the 
peculiar production of pigment, it is too complicated a matter to 
be discussed here. The only difference between Bacillus 
anthracis and Bacillus malarias (Klebs and Tommasi) is that the 
spores are smaller. We cannot, therefore, allow the specificity 
of this malarial Bacillus, though undoubtedly the organisms 
produce the disease described in rabbits. 
Professor Greenfield* then regretted that want of time pre¬ 
vented him from dealing with many important aspects of his sub¬ 
ject. He drew attention to the observations of Messrs. Downes 
and Blunt on the general nature of Bacteria and their life con¬ 
ditions; of Mr. Watson Cheyne on the occurrence of organisms 
beneath antiseptic dressings, and also in the tissues of healthy 
animals; of Klebs on syphilitic organisms (illustrated by 
diagrams); and several other recent contributions to our knowledge 
of these minute organisms. He then gave as a resume of his 
conclusions— 
1. That while studying Bacteria in relation to disease we must 
have regard to the life-history of Bacteria in general. 
2. That we must allow that Bacteria are polymorphic, each 
individual being capable of variation in form in adaptation to 
surrounding conditions, &c. 
3. That forms of Bacteria may be isomorphous, pathogenic 
forms, for instance, resembling innocent, or other disease-produc¬ 
ing organisms. 
4. That we are not in a position, by simple inspection, to dis¬ 
tinguish disease-producing Bacteria from forms compatible with 
health. Also the potency of some Bacteria is acquired as a 
result of cultivation. Under certain conditions they acquire 
