Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 266

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Micro-cocci in pure culture were found and agreed in all points with the ordi- nary staphylococcus epidermidis albus..

The following experiments with this culture were made. All of these have been noted under the following different headings:-

Experiment No. 1.

Experiment No. 2. Experiment No. 1. Experiment No. 3.

Experiment No. XI A.-Vide Observations on Sheep. Experiment No. XI B.--Vide Observations on Sheep. Experiment No. XI c-Vide Observations on Fowls. Experiment No. XI D.-Vide Observations on Fowls. Experiment No. XI E.-Vide Experiment on Rabbit, under Experiment

No. IX A. (Blood in Beri-beri).

Experiment No. XI F.-Vide Experiment on a Monkey. Experiment X a.

(Blood in Beri-beri).

Experiment No. XII.

Nature of experiment was the same as No. XI.

Mixed cocci were found-chromogenic and non-chromogenic and agreeing with the characteristics of staphylococcus albus and aureus.

The contents of this flask were not used for experimental purposes.

Experiment No. XII.

The nature, technique employed, and the result of the bacteriological examin- ations were identical with Experiment No XI. One variety of micro-coccus was present, namely, staphylococcus albus.

No experiments were inade.

Experiment No. XIV.

This experiment was carried out in the same way as the previous one. A well marked atrophic case of Beri-beri was used for venesection. The result of the bacteriological examination was the isolation of cocci and rod-shaped bacteria. The cocci were of the ordinary staphylococcic variety and the rods shewed themselves closely related to the colony group.

Owing to the mixed growth of micro-organisms no experiments were made with this bouillon.

Conclusions.

The results of these experiments shew more or less clearly, that micro- organisms of the common type are absent from the blood during an attack of Beri-beri. The repeated sterile result after inoculating bouillon and agar tubes with appreciable quantities of freshly flowing blood, demonstrates more or less clearly the non-bacteriamic nature of the disease.

The findings of other workers who have pinned their faith in the micro-organ- ismal nature of the disease must, as a result of our investigations, be looked upon in a different light. The prevention of contamination is a difficult matter even in the hands of an expert, and the description of the presence of micro-cocci and bacteria of several kinds must be regarded as the result of defective technique in the methods applied for the determination of this important question.