214 
G. SEE. 
they are soon interrupted, or rather diminished, by other bacilli 
more rapidly prolific and requiring less heat. There is then an 
antagonism, which forms one obstacle more to their atmospheric 
development, and they may almost be denominated mere para¬ 
sites, which cannot live without their living supports. Differing 
from the carbuncular bacteria, which may complete their growth 
outside of the animal economy, that of the bacillus is accom¬ 
plished only in the living body. It may produce its spores, 
which become free in the air, and may return into the organism, 
to transform themselves into bacilli, but they do not need the 
surrounding media to take their last and permanent form. 
II. Metamorplioric Origin. —Neither do they refer their 
origin to the common microphytes : the transformation advocated 
by Noegely, Buchner, has never been proved, either by mor¬ 
phology, or, especially, by experiment. Every kind of bacteria 
cannot produce tuberculosis, even in animals most predisposed to 
phthisis, as the guinea pig and the rabbit. Once developed, the 
tuberculous bacillus retains forever its miserable privilege ; they 
have been seen perfect, in their liquids of culture, after two 
years ; in sputa, even in putrefaction, they remain natural for 
six weeks. 
RESISTING POWER OF THE BACILLI. 
Their Antagonism to the Microbes of Putrefaction. —An 
interesting question presents itself in reference to the reciprocal 
and comparative action of parasites. Is there antagonism be¬ 
tween the bacilli and the microbes of putrefaction ? Falk* 
admits, from recent experiments, that the virulency of the bacillar 
tubercle is attenuated by putrefaction. He has inoculated tuber¬ 
culous substances in putrefaction, and has obtained only local 
tuberculosis ; but it is to be observed that the pus of suppura¬ 
tion coming from the inoculation of tuberculous putrified masses 
produced in other animals a manifest tuberculous infection. If, 
then, the tuberculous bacilli are really attenuated by the process 
of fermentation, from the first inoculation, they must, a fortiori , 
either produce no tuberculosis, or one weaker at the second. 
The question remains obscure. 
* Berlin—Wolliens, 1883, No. 50. 
