602 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
to grow it in the laboratory were futile. Countless attempts were 
made, all sorts of media were tried, and various temperatures, 
but the results were unsatisfactory. At last a culture was 
placed in a hydrogen atmosphere and then it was found that the 
tetanus bacillus would thrive upon the common media and at a 
variety of temperatures. It was anaerobic. In raising cultures 
of this bacillus the culture medium should be given a greater 
degree of. alkalinity than is supplied to other varieties. 
The reaction may be quite decidedly alkaline. The growth 
of the colony is somewhat slow. They take the form 
of a dense round centre with many delicate radii. A small 
amount of gas is produced as they grow and a most intense 
poison as well. The presence of the bacillus is not necessary 
for the production of tetanus in animals. All that is required 
is the poisonous product that they furnish. Injection of ani¬ 
mals with such product from a laboratory culture produces 
death fiom tetanus as quickly as though the living organisms 
themselves were introduced and the symptoms and course of the 
disease are the same in either case. 
From the laboratory growth of this bacillus we may learn 
at least two things. All wounds where the infection with the 
tetanus bacillus is suspected should be opened with a bold in¬ 
cision so as to admit air freely. Secondly, this should be done 
quickly as the tetanic spasms are dependent upon what seems 
to be a fermentative action rather than upon the production of 
large numbers of microbes within the system. 
In marked contrast to this organism is the growth of the 
streptococcus pyogenes. In the laboratory this microbe grows 
readily at first. It is easily started and the colony soon pre¬ 
sents a thriving appearance. But it soon seems to be receiving 
a check to its growth and to be losing its vitality. The cause 
is this. As it grows this colony excretes an acid which lique¬ 
fies the adjoining bouillon and is rapidly fatal to the growing 
parasites. This results in the laboratory in inevitable death to 
the organisms ; a sort of unavoidable suicide. They kill them¬ 
selves and cannot help it. Introduced into our patients the 
case is different. Here the blood current supplies fresh food 
for them and removes the objectionable acid. This coccus is 
the great secondary invader. It follows surgical operations and 
is the cause of spreading phlegmonous, erysipelas, septicaemia, 
pericarditis, peritonitis, etc. This and the staphylococci are 
excellent organisms for the beginner in laboratory culture to 
attempt to grow. They start to grow quickly, are not over par- 
