FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE AND ITS MICROBE. 
305 
In a first report the commission had concluded that: 
1st. The microscopic examination of the aphtous liquid 
obtained directly from a vesicle still intact, brought out the dis¬ 
covery of epidermic cells, some blood corpuscles, and numerous 
microbes, similar to those already discovered by Prof. Rivolta, 
which are alone the cause of the virulency of foot and mouth 
disease, and which ought to be called microccocus aphtosus. 
2d. Cultures of this micro-organism have been made success¬ 
fully. 
3d. A great extension ought to be given to the system of 
inoculation as already practised by many, from Buniva down to 
Rossignol. 
4th. Sub-cutaneous inoculations, made either with pure virus 
or with virus diluted in the aquous humor of the eye, have for 
their result to diminish the strength of the disease. 
These conclusions being presented, Dr. Nosotti states that the 
study of this inicrococcus aphtosus has been made by others and 
by himself, and that these studies have proved that the virus of 
aphta is cultivatable, and probably can thus be attenuated in its 
effects. 
While studying the nature of the virus, Dr. N. made numerous 
experiments in inoculation as above stated. These were all made 
uuder the skin of the dewlap, and they were followed by a benign 
attack of the disease, with the appearance of aphtous vesicles 
preceded by slight fever. These vesicles appeared on the buccal 
raucous membrane, were smaller than in the ordinary form, and 
cicatrized generally by simple resorption ; but when they ulcer¬ 
ated, the recovery began as soon as the skin was ruptured. It 
was also observed that the skin of the region where the inocula¬ 
tion had been made became the seat of an inflammation of phleg¬ 
monous nature, which was soon covered by numerous little 
aphta. 
Six months later the same commission published a second 
report, describing tlie experiments of inoculation made in various 
localities. The virus then used was diluted in aquous humor, and 
was pushed in the dewlap with a syringe of Provaz. It was 
hoped that by this process the affection would be localized in the 
