VEGETABLE ORGAN ISMS AS umm of mm. > DR. F. STEUDENER. TliANsLATKE> 3-'K<)M 'L'HK OKUMAX CONRAD GEORG. M. D. ANN ARBOR, MICH. : PUBLISHED BY J. R. WEBSTER & CO., BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS. 1872. PRINTED AT TIIE COURIER STEAM PRINTING HOUSE. VEGETABLE ORGANISMS AS CAUSES OF DISEASE F. STEUDENER. Translated from the German by Conrad Georg, M. D. During the last years, medical investigation has cultivated, with a certain degree of predilection, the field of the etiology of diseases; and the question pertaining to the nature of the substances, which must be accepted as the causes of the infectious dis- eases, and are designated as contagion or miasm, has especially called forth numerous investigations. As is well known, the ideas entertained of them by the physicians, in regard to the art and manner of their influence on the organism, have changed often in the course of time. In the last years, the view has gained ground, that in these diseases there is a fermenting ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS process going on in the system, and the infectious diseases have since been generally designated zymotic diseases. Although the theory of zymosis is, at pres- ent, void of all real foundation, still it cannot be dis- regarded, since the latest investigations of the fer- menting processes have shown them in clear light, that there exists a certain degree of analogy between the so-called zymotic diseases, and the fermenting processes, that the multiplication and reproduction of the causes of disease in the system (organism), present a remarkable coincidence with the multiplica- tion and reproduction of the ferment in the ferment- ing substance. Now, since Pasteur’s researches have established the fact for a great number of the fer- menting processes that they are dependent on the presence and activity of certain organisms, and that the distinct fermenting processes are caused and main- tained by specific, distinct organisms, but cease imme- diately after their death, a similar living cause would, naturally be accepted, likewise for the zymotic dis- eases. Thus the theory of zymosis gave rise to the theory of contagion and miasma. But, although this theory rests, at present, also on entirely unproved sup- positions, still, on the other side, it cannot be doubted, that the origin and the course of the epidemics often present circumstances which remind of the com- ing, the distribution, and the disappearance of cer- tain low organisms. But the epidemic diseases of plants and insects yield much more definite proof, in which, through the application of exact methods of investigation, such a contagion vivum has really been found. Thus the grape disease, which caused so much destruction in the vineyards, is caused by a fungus, (Oidium Tuckeri), which lives in the grapes and de- AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 3 stroys them (1). It has likewise been shown, that the fungus, (Peronospora infestans), which lives on the vines and fructifies there, is the cause of the Potato disease; its spores reach the bulbs through the ground, drive their utricles (Keimschlauch) into them, and grow in them into a mycelium, which pervades and destroys the bulbs, (2). Many epidemic diseases of the insects present similar circumstances. The Mnscardine, the well known epidemic dis- ease of the silkworm, is caused by the vegetation of a parasitic fungus, (Botrytis Bassiana,) in the living- animal, (3). Whilst the parasite lives on the blood and the soft part of the caterpillar, it becomes sick, and generally dies without being able to attain the nor- mal full development into the butterfly. But the same disease not unfrequently appears epidemically also in other caterpillars living in freedom, as has been shown, a few years ago, by an epidemic amongst the Pinespinners, (Bombyx Pini,) (4), in the pine for- ests of North Germany. The epidemic disease of the fly, which frequently appears late in the fall of the year, already observed by Goethe, is likewise caused by the development of a fungus (Empusa Muscae) in the liv- ing insect, (5). But, besides those mentioned, other (1.) Y. Mohl, on the Grape Disease. Botan. Zeit., 1852, p. 9; 1853, p. 585; 1854, p. 137. (2.) A. tie Bary. The present potato disease. Leipzig, 1861, and Recherches sur le developpement de qnelques champignons par- asites. Annales ties sciences naturelles, iv. ser., tom xx., No. 1, p. 28. (3.) A. de Bary. To the knowledge of the insect-killing fungi. Botan. Zeit., 1867, p. 1. (4.) A. de Bary. Our knowledge |of insect-killing fungi. Bo- tan. Zeit., 1869, p. 585. (5.) Brefeld. Investigations of the development of Empusa Muscse and Empusa radicans. Abhandl. der naturf. Gasellsch. Halle, XII. 4 OX VEGETABLE ORGANISMS distinct insect-killing fungi are known, which at times also cause epidemic diseases amongst the caterpillars, beetles, etc. Probably the disease of the silkworm, called Gfattine, is caused by the development of very minute vegetable organisms in the interior of the living animal, (6). In the named diseases of plants and animals, the art of infection, the propagation of the contagion, the relation between the progress of the disease and the progressing development of the fungi have been accurately observed, and corroborated by exact experiments. It is always the case that spores Figure i.—Forms of schizomycites. Mag. 600, B, Bacterium termo in its dis tinct forms. A, Zooglcea. O, Leptothrix. D, Bacterium. F, Spirillum volutans from the same source. C, Nosema Boombycis, in the blood of the silkworm. Monos crepusculum. (Nach Lebert Virch. Arch. XII., tab VI., fig. 16.) come on a plant or animal, germinate there, drive their utricles into the interior, and live and grow at the expense of the attacked individual until the en- tire supply of nourishment is used up. If, after the death of the animal, or the decay of the plant, favor- able circumstances for the further growth of the par- asite present themselves, it leaves the body of the ani- mal for the development of the reproductive organs, the product of which then effects the further spreading (6.) Frey and Lebert. Observations on the disease of the silk- worm, raging at present in Venice. Virch. Arch. XII, 144. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 5 of the disease. Diligent search has been made for a similar living organism in the infectious disease of man and beast, but the results thus obtained have often been used in a manner unworthy of criticism, be- cause the fungi thus lound were at once identified with the contagion, and it was not at all considered necessary to furnish further proof. The literature on this subject, which has been considerably increased during the last years, furnishes the most wonderful examples of inaccuracy, for the greater part of these investigations were made by investigators who were not master of their subject, either in Path- Fig. 2.—a, Saccharorayces cerevisiae, mag. 400, from ale-yeast, b. Saccharo- myces ellipsoides. mag. 400. from Loss- nitzer’s wine-yeast, (according to Ree’s alcoholic fermenting fungi.) Fig. 3.—Saccharorayces cerevisiae. Spore development in Ascus, from cul- ture in carrots. The letters a, d. e, f, dis- tinct forms of the ripe Asci, mag. 750; (according to Rees, alcoholic fermenting fungi.) ology or Botany, and hence it is no wonder that their results are unreliable. (7). But of late, a few exact observations and investigations have been produced, which are worthy of a critical considera- tion ; but it is necessary for a better comprehension of the subject, to precede them by a few preliminary re- marks concerning the nature and mode of living of the organisms in question. The vegetable organisms which can be regarded (7.) Comp, the observations of H. E. Hechter, in Schmidt’s Jahrbiicher, CXXXV. 81, CXL. 101, CLI. 313. 6 ox VEGETABLE OKGAXISMS as the causes of diseases in general, and of the infec- tious diseases in particular, belong exclusively to the lowest forms of vegetable life, where they more- over rank entirely by themselves. As regards vege- tation, they are dependent on organic substances, be- cause they lack the capability of producing from water, air, and inorganic mineral substances the or- ganizable combinations of carbonic acid with hydro- gen, oxygen, and nitrogen. This is a property of chlorophyll, and hence belongs exclusively to green- Fig. 4.—Mueor-Mucedo, mag. 250, from a vegetation on horse-dung, a, Ripe spor- angium. b, Sporangium, before the spore formation, c, Cotyledons, after emptying the sporangium. colored vegetation. Tlie vegetable lacking chloro- phyll is therefore dependent on organized substance, whether coining from animal or plant, and it either attacks living organisms, as a parasite, or dead, de- caying organisms, as saprophytes, (inhabitants of putrefaction). The majority of these vegetable organ- isms belong, with the exception of a few forms be- longing to higher organized plants, to the class of the fungi. Botany has separated the smaller part of them AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 7 as a group morphologically distinct from the fungi, and collected them under the name schizomycites. The organisms belonging to the schizomycites (8), distinguished by their smallness, consist of cells of round, oval, or cylindrical form, which are either single or united into rows, and in the latter case can form also long, yet always unbranching strings. (Fig. 1.) They multiply by continuous cell divi- sion, so that the strings grow at all points through cell division. The cells, when greatly magnified, pre- sent contents of protoplasm, which holds in suspen- Fig. 5.—Peronospora infestans, on potato vines, a, Ramified carrier *f sporan- gium, mag. 200. b, Sporangium with 5 spores, c, Zoospores, mag. 400, (according to de Bary.) sion little granules, which have a high reflecting power, and a single well defined outline, not a double outlined cell membrane. The cells are generally color- less, but, under certain conditions, they produce from (8.) The description of the schizomycites is given according to the older and later works by Cohn. Nova acta acad. caes. Leop. Carol. XXIV., 1, and Botanische Zeit, 1871, p. 861; further by Nae- geli, on Schizomycites ; Verb, der Naturforscher. Vers, z£i Bonn, 1857. Botan. Zeit., 1857, p. 760, and de Bary, on mould and yeast; Samml. gemein. Vortraege von Virchow and Hob endorf, IV. Ser. Heft, 87 and 88. 8 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS the nourishing substratum also red, violet, green, blue, and yellow coloring substances, which they then hold imbibed. They are either immovable, or show more or less active signs of motion. A few forms move actively in the liquid, but the kind of motion cannot be recognized. Swinging cilia have not yet been definitely recognized on them. Other rod-shaped cells show an oscillatory, others a winding motion. The moveable cells can become stationary whilst they grow, by continuous cell division into long threads, or when they collect in groups, and exude between Fig. 6.—Empusa Muscae. a, d, Mycelium tubes, with simultaneous ligation of spores, according to the letters. Mag. 150. e, Germinated spores, ligating secondary spores, (sporidies, mag. 150.) f, Yeast-like proliferations of the sporidies in the blood the fly, mag. 400, (according to Brefeld.) each other a transparent gelatinous intercellular sub- stance, (Fig. 1, a.) Then they form irregular gelatin- ous masses, or gelatinous membranes, in which the cells are imbedded either single, or as thready inter- woven cell-rows. In this state of rest the cells still continue to multiply by continued cell division. The threads formed by cell-rows are always single; rami- fications are never observed on them. Especial or- AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 9 gans of reproduction have not yet been observed on these organisms. The maintenance of the species seems to be effected only in this way, as has been shown by experiments, that on evaporation of the liquid in which they are contained, great numbers are carried off with the vapor, and float in the atmos- phere. If these schizomycites, floating in the air, come again into an adapted liquid, they again multi- ply by continued divisions. Fig. 7.—Eurotium aspergillus glaucus, mag. 400. a, Seed hyphe (Basidie) with bat-like, swollen end, showing, at b, the sterygmen which have sprung from it, which have ligated; at c, successive spore-chains; d, spores in different development, grow- ing on preserved fruits. A great many of the organisms belonging to the scliizomycites are carriers of certain ferments, by which they produce in the liquids in which they vege- tate, peculiar changes analogous to alcoholic fermen- tation. By such organisms alcohol is converted into acetic acid, milk sugar into lactic acid, and the com- plicated decompositions of albuminous substances, 10 01ST VEGETABLE ORGANISMS which are known as putrefaction, are caused and maintained by them. On account of these distinct transposing processes, the active organisms have, in reference to a system, been separated into distinct genera and species, and the probability of a specific distinction cannot well be denied. But the morpho- logical distinction can in many cases not be made, on account of their extreme smallness and similarity. Bacterium termo, the cause of decomposition in al- buminous substances, has by the latest investigations Fig. 8.—Trichothecium roseum, mag. 400. Successive ligation of separated spores beside each other, according to the letters, a, c, on decayed wood in forests. become the most prominently known (Fig. 1, a.) It appears in form of very small, sharp-bordered, round cells, which move actively in the liquid, and are de- scribed as Monas crepnsculnm. Besides these, we find rod-like cells (Bacterium), of very different lengths, with oscillatory motion; sometimes two or four are uni- ted to form a chain, (Fig. 1, a. d.) They arise from the round cells, growing longitudinally, and multiply like- wise by cell division. Longer threads, consisting of short cells placed side by side, are further recognized, AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 11 and have been described by older observers as Lepto- tlirix. (Fig. 1, a, O.) They arise by continued cell- division of the round or oval-shaped cells, whose products of division remain in connection. Finally the round or short rod-shaped cells are found united in masses and surrounded by a transparent, gelatin- ous mass (Fig. 1, a b,) like the Palmellen, and de- Fig. 9.—Penicillium glaucum, mag. 400. a, Ramified seed-hyphe. b, Basidics e, Sterygmen, with successive ligation of spores, on bread. scribed by older observers as Zoogloea. These differ- ent forms belong, therefore, entirely to one species, and present only distinct forms of development. They are those which cause and maintain the pro- cesses of putrefaction in organic substances, because they assimilate the soluble albuminous substances, partly as food, and decomposing them partly, and render the insoluble soluble for the same purposes. Little is known of the schizomycites named Spiril- lum volutans, (Fig. 1, F)\ thin, spiral-shaped, cylin- drical bodies; Nosema Bombycis, (Fig. 1, c,) oval bodies, with oscillatory motion. 12 OjST vegetable okganisms The fungi are essentially distinct from the scliiz- omycites (9). Their vegetative body, thallns, con- sists, with few exceptions, of more or less richly ram- ified, thread-like elements, the fungi threads or hyphe being either formed by a single ramified tube- shaped cell, or consisting of cell-rows, because the hyphe is divided by partitions into more or less long cylindrical cells. In both cases the enlargement of the hyphe takes place only by the growth of thejoints, so that in a hyphe consisting of a cell-row, the end cell only divides. The ramification of the hyphe is either dichotomous, or arises from development of Fig. io.—Mucor Mucedo, mag. 400. Gemmen, or incubating cell formation, from an old culture on horse-dung. tlie member cells. A few forms differ from this de- scription in regard to the construction of the tliallus. The yeast fungi (Saccliaromyces) consist of ramified cell-rows, arranged like the rosary, whose single ele- ments, round or oval, are only loosely connected with each other (Fig. 2). Their growth consists in the formation of peculiar sprouts (Fig. 2, a.), which can (9.) The description of the fungi is given according to de Bary: Morphology and Physiology of the fungi, in Hofmeister’s Hand- book of Physiology. Botanik, II., 1. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 13 arise at any desirable point of a cell, and by gradual enlargement, organize into a new cell only loosed connected with the first one. The single tube-shaped liyphe, as well as those consisting of cell-rows, present a distinct double- outlined, at times, very tender cell membrane. It contains contents of nearly homogenous proto- plasm, which frequently contains vacuoli and fine drops of fat. A nucleus has not yet been observed in the cells of the liyphe. The fungi tliallus is divided into two parts of dis- tinct formations, mycelium and cotyledons. The mycelium is formed from liyplie, which ramify in the nourishing ground of the fungi and entwine loosely, or unite into a membranous expansion, or form finally, by an intimate entwining, firm tubercul- ous bodies (Sclerotie). The cotyledons arise from the mycelium, which produce and carry the repro- ductive organs, either as a single seed liyphe, or as compound seed-bodies of hat, cup, or knob form. The seed liyphes arise from the mycelium as up- right threads, and are either single (Fig. 4 & 7), or ramified in a characteristic way (Fig 5, 8, 9). The propagation of the fungi is performed in a sexual and also an unsexual way. First, in regard to the unsexual propagation, the cells destined for reproduction, spores, can be formed in three different ways; by free sporetube cellformation within an enlarged cell (Ascus), by free cell division within an enlarged cell, (Sporangium), by ligation of a cell, (Basidium.) The Ascus fructification generally takes place in compound, at times, very complicately built seed-bod- ies, in which the sporetubes arise as tender cells,which grow rapidly into their destined size, and generally 14 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS present a bat-like, oval, or globular form. In the yeast fungi the cells of the thallus, in case that they come under adapted circumstances, increasing eonsid- erably, change into spores, (Fig. 3). The formation of the spores takes place thus; a part of the protoplasm of the Ascus adheres, by a kind of furrowing, into a num- ber of round bodies, which then surround themselves with a tender membrane. (Fig. 3, b.c.d.). Each body then forms a distinct spore. In many fungi the process of furrowing is pre- ceeded by the appearance of a nucleus in the Ascus, which, by continued division, multiplies into the number of spores to be built. Around each nucleus the protoplasm then groups for the formation of a spore. The number of spores formed in an Ascus is definite for the individual species of fungi, generally 8, for a few species it is indefinite. (Saccharomyces, 2-4; Fig. d.e.f.g.). The second form of spore building in the spor- angium, thus takes place: the end-cell of the seed- hyphe (Mucorinen) (Pig. 4), or its ramifications (Peronospores, Fig. 5), changes into maternal spore- cells filled with granular protoplasm, the entire contents of which are divided into a number of equal portions. Of these, each one then partakes of the character of a spore. In most cases each of the spores thus formed surrounds itself while still within the sporangium with a tender cell-membrane. The third form of spore formation by ligation, takes place either in single or ramified seed-hyphe, or in compound seed-bodies, and the cells begetting the spores are designated Basidies. They ligate them either directly (Pig. 6-a.d.), whilst the point swells somewhat, drives a button-like prominence, which then separates itself from the Basedie, and by a parti- AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 15 tion; or especial prolongations sterygme are driven from the Basedie, at which point the spores are then ligated in the manner just described (Fig. 7 b). The spore-ligation is either spontaneous, i. e. at the point of a Basedie or Sterygme only a single spore is ligated, (Fig. 6, d.), or it is successive, several spores are ligated after each other from the Basidie or Stery- gme. In this way the second spore in many species arises close beside the point of insertion of the first, which is then pushed to the side, the third arises beside the second, etc. (Fig. 8. a.c.). Thus the development of spore-lieads takes place. In other cases the second spore is ligated close under the first one with which it yet remains in connection—if this is often repeated then the formation of spore chains ensues (F. 9, c.). Besides these three forms of spore formation, many species of fungi can produce propagating or- gans at any desirable point of their mycelium, which are then designated incubating cells, and which by means of their germinating property attach them- selves to the spores. The development of such incub- ating cells takes place in this manner: the hyphen are divided by diagonal walls into short member cells, which surround themselves with a coarser membrane, and contain a great amount of granular protoplasm (Pig. 10). They arise chiefly when the species of fungi in question does not And the proper conditions of regulation for the development of the typical or- gans of propagation. In regard to the construction of the spores, we have to distinguish between moveable spores (Zoo- spores) and the immovable ones. The first belong only to a few species, (the Saprolignies and a few forms of the Peronospores). They are round or oval 16 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS bodies, devoid of a cellular membrane, endowed with one or two cilia, by means of which they move act- ively in water. (Fig. 5, c.). The immoveable cells have at the time of maturity a coarse cell-membrane, which frequently presents a separation into two layers, an inner Endosporium, and an outer one, Episporium. In many cases the latter presents a swarthy or thorny roughness. (Fig. 7, d). The spores are generally devoid of a nucleus, and present homogeneous contents, sometimes rend- ered opaque by granules and fat-drops. In many species the spores originally formed are divided by the secondary formation of partition cells, into two, or more parts, each one of which partakes of the character of a spore. They are designated, separated or compound spores (Fig. 8, c.). The form of the spores in the different species of fungi changes in various ways. They are globular, oval, cylindrical, lenticuler, and pear-shaped. When germinating the spore swells, and drives then in one or two directions a tubular nucleus, Promycelium, enveloped by a prolongation of the endosporium, which ramifies according to the nature of the spores, forms partition walls and grows, thus, into a new mycelium, which then again produces the typical re- productive organs. In other cases the Promyce- lium has a certain limit of growth, because it ligates immediately spores of second order, sporules, (Fig. 6, e.) after which the Promycelium perishes. The real mycelium with the typical reproductive or- gans arises by germination, from the sporules. But, in many species further species of sporules are pro- duced, even from the spores and sporules (Fig. 6, f.), out of which, then, under favorable circumstance, the mycelium shoots forth. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 17 A similar process takes place in the spores and germinating cells of Mucor Mucedo, when they are cultivated, immersed in solutions capable of fermen- tation. Under considerable swelling of the spores with the formation of vacuoles in the protoplasm, other- wise quite homogeneous, they project blister-like prominences as the yeast fungi, which then sepa- rate themselves by diagonal partition walls, in order to develop farther buds(prominences). Thus,countless generations of globular cells arise, which have been called ballyeast, also from the mycelium strings, which are cultivated, immersed in a liquid capable of fermenting, globular yeast arises from the cells formed by the formation of numerous partition walls and yeast-like proliferations. In a number of fungi a sexual propagation is al- so known, whose product is called Oospore; it has become better known in the Saprolignies and Per- onospores. To this class belong also the formation of the Zygospores in the Mucorines, caused by copula- tion and, the origin of the Perithecien in the Erysiphe, Eurotium and Penicillium, forming the Tube-spores. Several of the above described forms of fructifi- cation belong to a great number of the fungi, which develop, one after another, partly in a definite order, and partly arising only under conditions of vegeta- tion as yet unknown. This phenomenon, discovered 20 years ago by Tul- asne, which has since received numerous ratifications ? has been designated pleomorphism. Thus the mycelium of the widely distributed mould fungus, Eurotium as- pergillus glaucus,first produces cotyledons, which lig- ate sporechains on numerous sterygmes, (Fig. 7), later perithecies develop on the same mycelium, which pro- duce spore-forming Asci in the interior. Before this 18 OX VEGETABLE ORGANISMS connection was known, the two distinct forms of fructification had been described as two distinct fungi, growing sociably beside each other, the first Asper- gillus glaucus, the latter as Eurotium lierbariorum. During the last years, Hallier, relying on pre- tended clean culture apparatuses, has given a devel- opment to the pleomorphism of the fungi, which, if it were correct, would simplify extraordinarily the so exceedingly difficult systemification of the fungi. After he had obtained very distinct species of fungi from the schizomycites, which are morphologically distinct from the fungi, by pretended cleanculture, according to the employed substrata, he drew the conclusion from this fact, that the most of these forms of fungi, described as distinct genera and species, represent only distinct stages of development of one individual, depending on conditions of vegetation. He maintains, therefore, to be able to breed by culti- vation forwards and backwards, by changes in the conditions of vegetation, starting from the scliizomy- cite forms, (Micrococcus, Hallier,) yeast, mould-forms, and mycelium-forms of various structure, even to the transition of the larger liat-fungi into ramifications, (10). Hallier’s doctrine of the Pleomorphism of the fungi has unfortunately received nearly an unscrupu- lous reception amongst physicians, whilst nearly all botanists have rejected his assertions as false, and his methods of investigation as unscientific. It cannot be the object of this paper to give a detailed contra- diction to Hallier’s assertions, the less so since it has already proceeded from a more weighty source, in a manner more than sufficient, (11). (10.) Uebersichten von H. E. Rechter. vjll.) A de Bary. Report of the fungi found in the cholera de- AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 19 I have already remarked that the fungi are dependent, in regard to their nourishment, on or- ganic substance. They are therefore only found on organic bodies, living or dead, xlccording to their mode of life, they can be divided into two great groups: in parasites, which settle themselves on or in living animals, and take their nourishment out of them; and in saprophytes, which inhabit only dead, decom- posing, organic substances. However, of the first a few seem to begin their development as real parasites, and to terminate as saprophytes, because they first develop their typical reproductive organs after the death of the host, (12). The saprophytes cause, by their vegetation, changes in the substrata which they inhabit, which can be ranked beside the symptoms of putrefaction caused by the schizomycites in general, but of which, as yet, little is known. The effects of a few species on the substrata and their products, have been studied more accurately, and so also the forms of the Sac- charomyces, which, in liquids capable of fermenta- tion, change grape sugar into alcohol and carbonic acid. However, the spores and mycelia of Mucor Mucedo and racemosus show the same effects of fer- mentation, although not so energetically, when they are immersed in liquids capable of fermentation. They develop thereby the globe-yeast already men- jections. Virchow and Hirsch. Report of the work of medical in- vestigations in the year 1867, II., 240. (12.) Botrytis Bassiana, Empusa muse®, Cordiceps militaris, develop their reproductive organs first after the death of the attacked insect. But during this time the interior of the insect is so completely filled up with the products of vegetation of the fungi in question, that it is also possible that the organs of reproduction, which now ap- pear, take their nourishment from the fungous elements previously formed. 20 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS tioned. Of other mould forms similar changes are known, (13). The parasitic fungi call forth numerous disturb- ances of development and growth in the organs of their host, which can finally cause either his death, or the death of single parts. If now, after these necessary botanical prelimi- nary remarks, I turn to the real subject of discussion, to the vegetable organisms as far as they are known as causes of disease in man, I must, at first, remark that our knowledge of them, in a botanical point of view, is yet, at present, very imperfect. From the great number of observations on the appearance of fungi in morbid processes, laid down in the literature of the subject, many, whose parasitic nature is questionable, are first to be discarded. They pertain to the vegetations of fungi which had infected external and internal cavities of the body, especially the outer auditory meatus, bronchial dilatations and cavities of the lungs, and belong to the univer- sally distributed mould-forms, Aspergillus, Peni- cillium, Trichothecium, Mucor, etc. They stand in no causal relation to the disease which may be pres- ent, but develop only on tissues already dead or stag- nant secretions, whose decomposition they promote, by which, at all events in certain cases, symptoms of irritation are called forth ; as, for example, in the tympanum. They are, therefore, by no means to be considered as specific causes of disease. (14) (13.) Thus Penicillium glaucum and Eurotium aspergillus niger according to Van Tieghem, by luxuriant vegetation on Tannin-solu- tions, their decomposition into Gallic acid and sugar, a process an- alogous to alcoholic fermentation. (14.) The growth of fungi in the outer meatus has been fre- quently observed. Thus by Cramer: Zeitschrift der Schweitzer na- turforsclienden Gesellschaft. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 21 Independent of these saprophytic fungi, we have become acquainted, since Schoenlein’s discovery of the parasitic nature of the favus, with a number of genu- ine parasitic fungi which inhabit the integument and mucous membrane, and cause specific, distinct condi- tions of disease. They are the Achorion Sclioenleinii, the favus fungus, Trichophyton tonsurans, the fungus of herpes tonsorans and of the sycosis, Microsporon furfur, the fungus of pityriasis versicolor andOidi- um albicans, the soor fungus. The diseases of the skin and mucous membrane caused by them are in- deed only local, but distinctly contagious ; the distri- bution, and the conveyance of the diseases to other in- dividuals can only be accomplished by means of the propagating cells of the fungi. The named species of fungi have as yet been imperfectly studied in a botan- ical point of view. In these fungi we know nothing but the mycelium strings,which divide at single points, by the formation of numerous partition walls, into short cylindrical cells, which detach themselves from each other and assume a globular form, and are then lying single, or in groups between the ramified andin- tertwined mycelium strings. There are, in general, falsely designated spores, for they are only propa- gating cells, destined for the maintainance of the spe- Mayer: Mueller’s Archiv fur Anatomie und Physiologie, 1844, p. 404. Pacini Gaz. Med. Ital., 1851, I., Ser. II. Schwartze: Archiv fur Ohrenheilkunde II., 5. Wredeu: Archiv fur Ohrenheilkunde, III. Wreden: Myringomyeosis aspergillina, Petersburg, 1868. Steudener: Archiv fur Ohrenheilkunde, V., 163. Comp: On formation of fungi in the lungs. Yircliow: in Virch. Archiv, IX., 558. Friedreich: Virch. Archiv, X., 510. v. Dusch u. Pagenstecher: Virchow Arch. XI., 561. Cohnheim : Virch. Arch. XXXIII, 159. 22 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS cies, just as the germinating cells or gemmen of mu- cor mucedo, fig. 10. Typical organs of reproduction are of them ; but they may develop themselves on other sub- strata, or under other conditions of vegetation. Lately, the view obtained of them by unclean culture- experiments has been much discussed and promulga- ted, viz : that they are in relation with other known species of fungi, especially the extensively distribu- ted mould fungi, Aspergillus, Penicillium andMucor, and represent their mycelium which produces the ger- minating cells. (15.) But heretofore the experiment never succeeded in producing the skin diseases in question by inoculating with the spores of fungi, whilst they are easily trans- ported by the germinating cells of these parasities. (16.) The fungi, infecting the integument, restrict their vegetation to the middle and deeper layers of the tis- sue and their continuation into the cutis, but the latter is almost never infected by them. They cause, there, at times only slight irritations, but at times also symptoms of inflammation of different forms, (exuda- tion, ulceration.) Oidium albicans vegetates, in deed, also generally in the middle and deeper layers of the mucuous membranes of the mouth, pharynx oesophagus, and vagina, but it happens, some- times, that the parasite drives its mycelium-strings (15.) This view was first advanced by Tilbury Fox, and believed greatly in England. In regard to its contradiction comp. A. de Bary Morphologieder Pilze, etc., 224. (16.) In regard to these experiments comp. Kobner : Klinische and experimentelle Mittheilungen aus der Dermatologie und Syphilido- logie. Erlangen 1864. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 23 even into the mucous membrane. Indeed, it has even been found within the blood-vessels. (17.) This can finally lead to fungi-emboli, as is demonstrated by a case observed by Zenker, in which simultaneously with the soor of the pharynx and oesophagus, numerous small abscesses were found in the brain, the centres of which were formed by mycel- ium strings of the construction of Oidium albicans. (18.) The vegetation of this fungus in the epithelium of the mucous membrane causes generally more impor- tant symptoms of inflammation than the species of fungi are apt to produce which inhabit the integu- ment, and in many cases symptoms of fever have been observed in connection with it. But, in general, the symptoms of disease, caused by the four named species of fungi, are local and unimportant, and are generally easily removed. In op- position to these, we have lately become acquainted with a parasite fungus, which causes so important de- structions, that its removal finally requires important surgical operations. It is the Chionyphe Carteri, which causes, in certain districts of India, the endemic disease mycetoma, better known as madura-foot (19.) As already indicated by the latter name, the di- sease appears most frequently on the lower extremi- ties. The fungus infects here at first the subcutane- ous cellular tissue, which is greatly thickened by in- flammatory infiltration. Gradually, it attacks also the deeper structures, which likewise become greatly indurated, so that the foot is finally converted into a (17.) Wagner: Jahrbuch fiir Kinderheilkunde, 1868. I., 58. (18.) Zenker: Jahresbericht der Gesellschaft fur Natur und Heil- kunde in Dresden 1861-62. 24 OX VEGETABLE OKGANISMS formless mass. Later, suppuration and perforation take place at one or more points of the swelling. The openings, thus produced, lead into fistulous si- nuses, which traverse greatly the swollen soft parts, and separate a thin pus-like liquid, which holds in suspension more or less numerous circular black bodies. Similar blackish masses, from the size of a millet seed to that of a bullet, are found imbedded in great numbers in the inflammatory infiltrated soft parts, they have even been found in the marrow of bones. The blackish bodies consist of mycelium strings, which are formed greatly ramified from cell rows, the individual members of which appear greatly lengthened. They present a coarse cell membrane and contain homogeneous protoplasm, which often presents vacuoles and droplets of fat. Short branches arise from the mycelium strings, which carry the blackish sporangies. (Fig. 11, b and c.) They present a globular form with an undulating sur- face, and are frequently surrounded by a net-work of fine hyplies, which seem to arise from the suppor- ter of the sporangium. The spores present a lengthy oval form, and on each end a fat droplet. The development of the sporangies seems to depend on the more rapid growth of the end cell of the sup- porter of the sporangium, (sporangiumtrmger), (fig. 11, a.) but the finer processes in connection with it are not yet known, (20.) The disease is found almost exclusively on the feet, very seldom on the hands, and nearly without exception the people wearing no shoes are affected with it. Little is known of the manner of the infec- (19.) Hirsch : Ueber den Madurafuss. Virchow’s Archiv. XX VII. 98. (20.) Berkley lias given a description of the parasites with plates, AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 25 tion, according to the opinion of the Indian physi- cians, an injury of the skin is necessary, through which the parasite gets into the cutis and the subcu- taneous cellular tissue. But not alone in outer parts, also in inner or- gans, a participation of vegetable organisms in certain morbid processes has lately been observed. Leyden and Jaffe (21) have demonstrated the presence of schi- zomycites, (Bacterium termo) in its distinct forms, and Spirillum volutans,) both in the sputa and the di- seased structures of putrid bronchitis and gangrene of the lungs. But here they are not to be regarded as the causes of the processes of disease, but only as the causes of putrefaction in the dead lung tissues, and the stagnant bronchial secretions, for their germs can easily get to these parts by respiration. It is different, however, in the case of pyelo- nephritis, which is frequently developed in conse- quence of chronic catarrh of the bladder. Traube (22) has first shown that germs of schizomycites are fre- quently conveyed into the bladder by the introduc- tion of the catheter, and on account of their further development and multiplication convert the simple catarrh into putrid suppuration. The moveable bac- teries wander through the ureters into the pelvis of the kidney, the sinuses of which favor their undis turbed multiplication. There they cause a suppura- tive pyelitis, and finally enter the tubuli uriniferi, the epithelium of which they destroy. Then they wander into the interstitial tissue of the kidney, and cause in- partly after the drawing of Carter in the Proceedings of the Linnean Soc. 1865. VIII., 139. (21.) Leyden nnd Jaffe: On putrid bronchitis. (22.) Traube: Berliner Klinische Wochenschrift 1864. No. 2. 26 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS flammatory irritation in a high degree, because inter- stitial suppuration ensues now with its further heavy consequences for the organism. The kidney is found traversed with large and small abscesses, partly con- fluent,in which the bacteries are always present. This affection of the kidney could rightly be designated parasitic nephritis. (23.) In the diseases hitherto discussed, vegetable or- ganisms have thus been certainly demonstrated as the specific causes of disease, and the conveyance of the diseases in question, by means of the propagating cells of the parasites, has also been partly corrobo- rated by experiments. But, in regard to the real in- fectious diseases, we still find many chasms in our knowledge of the causes of those diseases, which must be bridged by further investigation in this field. The cause of this lies in the difficulty of the investiga- tion and the experiment. If here, as the zymotic theory demands, vegetable organisms are the cau- ses and distributors of the diseases, they certainly belong to the smallest forms, probably scliizomycites, the smallness and similarity of which render exact in- vestigations and experiments really so exceedingly difficult. Nevertheless, numerous investigations have lately been made in reference to the causes of the in- fectious diseases, but, with few exceptions, in such a worthless way that the question pertaining to the nature of the infectious substances has not been ad- vanced at all; on the contrary, they have called forth among physicians and botanists a just suspicion of these parisitological investigations, and the parasitic theory of the infectious diseases in general. Most of these works are based, in a botanical (23.) Klebs : Handbuch der pathologischen Anatomie. 654. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 27 point of view, on Hallier’s views, who, without being a physician, has been very productive in this field. In these investigations the spores of fungi, or forms of schizomycites (micrococcus), which were found espe- cially in the contents of the alimentary canal or in the blood, and had come there accidentally, were, without any further consideration, identified with the cause of the disease. And whilst the liquids in question were cultivated in so-called clean culture apparatusses, the botanical species of the cause of disease was then de- termined, according to the forms of fungi washed out, which often differed greatly. To furnish proof for the promulgated views by clean experiments was never considered necessary. (24.) These investigations were also extented to the field of physiology, and all changes in the body, de- pending on the effects of fermentation, were traced back to the influence of vegetable organisms. Thus, a micrococcus was discovered in the fine albuminous and fat granules of the salivary and hepatic cells, just as many a fine-granuled detritis, of most distinct nature and origin, has been described as mi crococcus. (25.) Amongst the few infections diseases in which a vegetable organism, a living virus, has been demon- strated as the cause of disease, and investigated by scientitic methods, pyaemia and septicaemia take the first rank. Klebs has the merit of being the dis- coverer, of having pursued most accurately its mode of distribution and its influence on the organism, and of having proved the correctness of his view by ex- (24.) Most of these works have been published in Hallier’s Zeit- schrift fiir Parasitenkunde. (25.) Bechamp, Estor, et St. Pierre : Du role des organismes mi- 28 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS periments. (26.) According to his investigations both diseases are caused by the same parasite. Klebs found in the investigation of the wound secretions, in the thin ichorous as well as in the thick creamy pus, almost always vegetable organisms in varying numbers. Unusually numerous in thin ichor, less numerous in good pus, but never wanting entirely in the latter. They presented themselves as very small round cells of 0.5 mikrmm. diameter, partly in active motion, partly immovable in masses lying- close together. Beside them were found rod-shaped bodies with oscillatory motion, or immovable, ar- rayed side by side as long membered threads ; finally the round cells above described united into longer rosary-like threads. Klebs regards these dif- ferent forms, as belonging together, under the name Microsporon septicum. (27.) According to their morphological condition they belong, at all events, to the schizomycites, Bacterium termo and its distinct stages of development, as Zoog- loea, forms similar to Leptothrix. On further investi- gation, Klebs found these organisms in zoogloea forms settled on granulation tissue and ulcerating cartilage. He pursued their entrance into the secre- tion cavities of the cellular connective tissue, where they cause inflammation and ulceration, and their en- trance into the medulla causes also the traumatic osteomyelitis. Here he also observed their destruc- tive influence on the vessels which they enter by de- croscopiques de la bouche dans la digestion Montpellier 1869. Schmiedt’s Jahrbiicher. CLI., 326. (26.) Klebs, Beitraege zur patholagischen Anatomie der Schuss- wounden. Leipzig 1872. (27.) The designation microsporon septicum is not well selected, since it might easily lead to regard it in relation with microsporon fur- fur. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 29 stroying the walls, and produce either attached or obstructing thrombi, or they enter the circulating blood directly. Then they prefer to settle at such points in the vessels remote from the wound where the current of blood is both steadier and slower. They are, therefore, frequently found behind the valves of the veins, where they then cause inflammatory irrita- tion of the inner coat (intirna) and secondary thrombi, indeed, even ulceration. They are also present in large numbers in the thrombi, and they alone cause their destructive decomposition. If the thrombi, filled with parasites, come into the circulation, they will next produce an infarction, in case that they are carried into a terminating artery. The organisms contained in the embolus then, multiplying rapidly, enter the infarct and cause its suppurative liquefaction, the re- sult of which is the well-known conical metastatic ab- scess. If the embolus remains in an artery which is not a terminating one, but forms anastamoses with neighboring arteries, then it does not produce an in- farction, but the organisms contained in it enter the tissue and cause inflammation and suppuration. (28.) But such metastatic abscesses arise also without the presence of emboli, by the settling and multipli- cation of the organisms, contained in a free state in the circulation, in the capillaries, from whence they invade the tissues and cause suppuration. This pro- cess is noticed, especially in pymmic abscesses of the liver. The great distribution of these organisms in the bodies of pyrnmic patients, and especially their relation to the secondary suppurations made it very probable that the cause of the entire morbid process (28.) These observations of Klebs coincide with Cohnheim’s exper- imental results : Untersuchungen liber die embolischen Processe. Ber- lin 1872. 30 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS is to be looked for in them. The experiment corrob- orated the truth of this supposition completely. Wound secretions containing these organisms in great numbers, were filtered through clay cylinders, and the filtrate thus obtained, being entirely free from them, was injected subcutaneously into animals. The symptoms arising in the animals experimented on showed more or less violent fever, which passed off in a few days. None of the animals experimented on died, and even after repeated injections, local or Fig. ii.—Chionyphe Carteri, mag. 450. Part of a mycelium, with 3 sporangies, according to an old drawing of Carter, (Proceed, of the Linu. Soc., ven. iii., tal. ii fig. 1.) a, First Stage of a sporangeum. b, Sporangeum nearly fully developed, sur- rounded by five hype. C, Ripe sporangeum, opened and discharging its spores. metastic suppuration never occurred. But if liquids containing the fungi, were injected, then the animal died in a few days, and extensive suppuration ap- peared always at the point of injection. (29.) (29.) Neither would this experiment furnish an entirely unobjec- tionable proof, since, in filtering, other corporeal elements (pus cells) of the wound secretions remain behind, to which the infecting material might be attached. But if we consider how different pus, injected into AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 31 The results of these experiments give us also in- dications of the inliuence of these organisms on the origin of the fever. They cause by their vegetation, or by a ferment which they contain, chemical changes in the wound secretions or blood to whose products the pyrogenic effect is to be ascribed. Since Klebs found these organisms in the py- semic, as well as in the septicmmic process, and these two wound diseases, hitherto strictly separated, show besides this many transitions which do not admit of a separation of them, from an anatomical point of view, he regards them as one morbid process, the distinct course of which depends on the slower or more rapid and extensive invasion of these vegetable organisms, and on the pyrogenic material developed by them in the circulation. In another morbid process, which belongs really to veterinary medicine, but on account of its frequent conveyance to man demands medical interest in a high degree, viz : gangrene of the spleen, Davaine, a few years ago, has likewise made the existence of a contagium vivum probable. Pollender (30) had al- ready discovered, 17 years before, numerous immo- vable rod-like bodies in the blood of animals which died of gangrene of the spleen. Brauell (31) corrobo- rated this observation a few years later and proved likewise their appearance in the blood of the diseased animal, a short time before death. a vessel, acts, how such an injection, at times, does not produce any dis- turbance, and again, in other cases, is followed by the gravest symp- toms of disease, we must come to the conclusion that this action is not due to the pus, but to other substances, vegetable organisms, attached to it. (30.) Pollender: Casper’s Vierteljahrschrift fiir gerichtl. Med. 1855. VIII., 103. (31.) Brauell: Virchow’s Arch. XL. 137. XLY. 432. XXXVI. 292 32 OX VEGETABLE ORGANISMS He regards them as infusoria (bacteries) belong- ing exclusively to gangrene of the spleen, out of which, after the death of the animal, movable vibri- ones are developed, partly immediately, partly after their destruction into little granules. In regard to their action in gangrene of the spleen, he defends firmly the view, that they are neither the cause of the disease nor the carriers of the contagium, but are only of consequence in regard to the prognosis. Dalefond (32) confirmed Brauell’s observations in regard to the appearance of these organisms in the blood before the death of the animal, but rejects his assertions, that they are later developed into vibriones. He regards them as vegetable organisms in close rela- tion to the alges, and sees in them the contagium of gangrene of the spleen. After the death of the animal he still observed a growth of the rod-shaped bodies, but vibriones first appeared with the beginning of putrefaction of the blood of gangrene of the spleen. The rod-shaped bodies disappear more and more as the vibriones increase in number, because they perish by decomposition. Davaine (33) liatl likewise already (1850) observed these organisms in the blood of animals that died of gangrene of the spleen, without, however, ascribing an}' significance to them. But under the influence of Pasteur’s discoveries of the action of low organisms appearing in distinct processes of fermentation, he at once resumed his investigations of gangrene of the spleen on an extensive scale, and sustained his views (32.) Delafond. Recuil de la Med. veterin. IV. Ser. veu Int. Sept., 1860, referirt im Repert. der Thierheilkunde XXII. 31. (33.) Davaine: Compt. rend LVII. 220, 351, 386. LIX. 393. M£m. de la Society de Biologie 1865. III. Ser. Y. 193. Yergl. Sclimiedts Jahrbucher CXXXVIII. 37. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. thus obtained by numerous experiments. Davaine found the rod-shaped bodies constantly in the blood of all animals that died of gangrene of the spleen, whether they had taken the disease spontaneously, or by inoculation, but missed them constantly iu the blood of healthy animals, or that died of other diseases, and from this circumstance he already drew the con- clusion, that they stand in a causal relation to the named morbid processes. Since he further found them already in the blood of the diseased animal be- fore its death, he pursued their development by inoc- ulation. This showed that for some time after the inoculation (until 48 hours) the rod-shaped bodies were not yet in the blood of the inoculated animal, but presented themselves on the appearance of the first constitutional symptoms of the disease, and then multiplied very rapidly until the death of the animal under experiment, so that their multiplication corres- ponds with the increase of the symptoms of the di- sease. He found them not only in the blood, but in all organs, never, however, in exudates and secretions, with which inoculation also never succeeded. Davaine describes these organisms as cylindri- cal, unramified straight strings, of 0.004—0.05 mm. in length, and of great fineness, of which the longer generally present one or two depressions, which last appearance may well be regarded as the beginning of a division. They show no independent motion, and are not identical with Bacterium termo, for when blood decomposes which contains these organisms, they dis- appear by decay and make room for bacteries and vibriones. Davaine, regards them, therefore, as a dis- tinct species of vegetable organisms related with Bac- terium termo, Mycoderma aceti and other organisms of fermentation, and designates them Bacteridies. He OX VEGETABLE ORGANISMS mentions nothing regarding their first development and probable polymorphism similar to Bacterium. Davaine now regards these organisms as the real cause of gangrene of the spleen, by the vegetation of which decompositions analogous to the fermenting processes are produced in the blood, and with this view relies especially on his attempts of inoculation. Only blood containing the bacteridies is capable of transporting gangrene of the spleen, for which a minimum number suffices. If an animal, inocula- ted with blood of gangrene of the spleen containing bacteridies is used, for further inoculation, before the bacteridies are developed in its blood, the inocculation remains entirely without success ; the same happens if the blood of gangrene of the spleen is used for in- oculation which has been left decomposing until the bacteridies have disappeared in it. The loss of the power of infecting corresponds, therefore, with their disappearance. But dried blood retains its infecting power for months, but the bacteridies are then also found in it well preserved. (34.) Unfortunately, Davaine neglected to make the one experiment which would have removed all objec- tions against his view of the importance of bacteridies in gangrene of the spleen; the liberation of the blood from bacteridies by filtering J.t through a clay cylinder, and inoculating with the filtrate. Davaine (35) lias further, also, demonstrated the connection between the pnstula maligna in man and (34.) The extraordinary power of infection, possessed by dried skins of animals which died of gangrene of the spleen, agrees exceed- ingly well with this. Vergl. Hasselbach. Mag. f. die gesammte Thierheil- kunde XXYI. 201. (35.) Davaine Compt. read. LIX. 429. LX. 1293. Arch, general, October. 1804. pag. 498. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 35 gangrene of the spleen, which seems still to have been doubted in Prance, once by demonstrating the pres- ence of the bacteridies in the pustal itself, and in the blood of persons that died of the disease, and again by producing gangrene of the spleen in animals in- oculated with an excised pustula. The conveyance of gangrene of the spleen to man takes place thus ; the bacteridies get into the rete malpiglii, there they first multiply and then they enter the circulation by means of the lymphatic vessels, or directly by enter- ing the blood vessels. Davaine’s discoveries found in liis time, in gene- ral, little belief and many opponents. (36.) It would, however, lead too far to discuss all the objections raised against his views, and I shall limit myself to the remark; that Davaine’s statements, according to which the bacteridies are developed in the living ani- mal, and that the blood is capable of infecting when it contains them, but that the blood of inoculated ani- mals, if does not yet contain any bacteridies, can not produce an infection, have not been disproved. Thus Munch (37) has observed in a great number of cases of gangrene of the spleen in man, the same affections of the alimentary canal partly with and partly with- out outer localization, as they have long ago been known in animals. They present themselves as lar- ger and smaller hemorrhagic infiltrated masses, with ttat incrustations in the centre, in the mucous mem- brane of the stomach and the entire alimentary canal. (36.) Amongst the objections raised against Davaine’s views of the nature of gangrene of the spleen is yet to be mentioned, that the bacteridies have been regarded as exudates of fibrine. But the micro- chemical investigations of Pollender, Brauell and others, show the fallacy of this objection. (37.) Munch : Centralblatt der Med. Wissenschaften 1871. page 802. 36 OX VEGETABLE ORGANISMS Probably similar cases of such affections of the ali- mentary canal observed by Buhl (38.), Waldeyer (39.), Wahl (40) and von Recklinghausen (41) belong to this affection, in which strings, like the bacteridien strings, were found in great numbers in the infiltrated patches of the mucous membrane, which could be traced into the lymph and blood-vessels, whilst nu- merous shorter rod-like bodies were also found everywhere in the blood. (42.) According to this, gangrene of the spleen seems really to depend, like pytemia, on the entrance of vegetable organisms into the circulation, and the de- composition of the blood, analogous to the ferment- ing processes, thus produced. (43.) Recent investigations have likewise proved the probability of the participation of vegetable orga- nisms in diphtheria. Buhl (44) had first drawn atten- tion to the constant appearance of forms of schizo- mycites in the diptheritic plaques, but left it, however, doubtful whether an essential participation in this morbid process belongs to them. Hueter (45) observed (38.) Buhl : Zeitschrift fur Biologie, VI. 129. (39.) Waldeyer : Virchow’s Archiv. LII. 341. (40.) Wahl: Virchow’s Arch. XXI. 579. (41.) Recklinghausen : Virchow’s Arch. XXX., 366. (42.) Davaine seems to have given no attention to the affections to the alimentary canal in the gangrene of the spleen, at least I find them never mentioned. (43.) The only chemical analysis of the blood of gangrene of the spleen known to me, Sarcharjin : Virchow’s Archiv. XXI. 359, con- tains only the percentage of the red corpuscles of the blood and the plasma. The first were found diminished by one-third, the latter in- creased the same amount. (44.) Buhl: Einiges Uber Diphtherie, Zeitschrift. fur Biologie. III. 341. (4 5.) H liter, Pilzsporen in den Geweben und irn Blute bei Gan- graena diphtheritica.—Centralblatt VI. 1868, p. 117. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. the very same organisms in the grey diphtheritic layers of wounds, and on more careful investigation he found them also in the neighboring tissues, seemingly quite healthy yet. He likewise proved their presence in the blood of such patients. Later, Hueter and Tomsasi (46) observed the same organisms also in the pseudomem- branes of diphtheria of the larnyx and pharynx, and in every case in countless numbers in the blood of the patients. By inoculation of the pseudomembranes into the trachea, and beneath the integument at differ- ent points of the body, they always again obtained the diphtheritic process ; in such cases they always found countless numbers of the small organisms in the neighborhood of the diseased parts, in tissues apparently quite healthy, as well as in the blood of the inoculated animals. They described them as very small round, or short oval dark colored bodies, all engaged in active motion, entirely of the appear- ance of Monas crepusculum. From their experiments of inoculation they drew the conclusion that the virus of diphtheria is probably connected with the organisms. Nearly simultaneously Oertel (47) published in- vestigations of the relation of these organisms to the diphtheritic process. He observed them in the pseudo- membranes, but found also the inflamed mucous mem- brane tilled with these organisms ; further, he could flnd them in the different lymphatic vessels of the near- est lymphatic glands,in the glands themselves, as well as in the blood-vessels of the kidneys, and other in- ternal organs. According to these discoveries, he re- (46.) Hiiter und Toinasi : Ueber diphteritis. Bayerscb, arztl. In- tellig. Blatt. 18G8. No. 31. (47.) Oertel: Studien iiber diphtheritis. Bayerscb, arztl. Intel- lig. Blatt. 1868. No. 81. 38 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS garded himself justified to bring them in a causal connection with the diphtheritic process. Nassilofi (48) corroborated the entirely regular appearance of these organisms in the diphtheritic mem- branes, and sought to discover, by way of experi- ments, their importance in the morbid process. By inoculations into the cornea, a multiplication en masse of these organisms appeared regularly as first change at the point of inoculation, which had filled all the secreting chanels, and even expanded them in part. In the neighborhood of this part of the cornea, filled with parasites, the secreting chanels appeared filled with masses of pus cells. Also, mother locali- ties (in the gums), he could convince himself of the entrance of these organisms into the secreting chanels and lymphatic vessels in the neighborhood of the diph- theritic points; he found them in great numbers, even in the cartilages and bones. From his investigations he draws the conclusion, that the development of the little organisms represents the primary stage of the diph- theritic process. Ill another larger work, on diphtheria, Oertel (49) establishes the proof by numerous experiments of in- oculation, that the morbid process is at first only lo- cal at the point of inoculation, and from this point a general infection is first developed. The destruction of tissues, peculiar to the diphtheritic process is caused by the vegetation of those small vegetable or- (49.) Oertel : Experimentelle Untersuchungen liber Diphtherie. Deutsch, Arch. f. Klin. Med. VIII. 242. (48.) Nassiloff: Ueber die Diphtheritis. Virch. Arch. p. 550. (50.) The works of Letzerichs : “Zur Kentniss der Diphtheritis” Virchow’s Arch. XLV. 327. XLVI. 229, XLVII., 516, differing en- tirely from the above, can not be considered here, since he establishes the parasitic nature of Diphtheritis solely on the appearance of fungi- strings and spores in the detached pseudomembranes, without having AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. ganisms, which, during the height of the disease, are destributed in immense numbers through the system, especially in the blood, frequently exceeding six times the number of red corpuscles. He regards them, therefore, as identical with the contagium. As much now as the exact investigations of Hueter, Oertel and Nasilotf make probable the par ticipation of the vegetable organisms, described by them coincidingly, in the diphtheritic process, as much also, as the art of infection,and the development of the entire disease from it, is favorable to the acceptation of the view, that the cause of the disease is identical with the infecting material ; yet, none of the named experimenters has demonstrated by investigation, that really only the vegetable organisms, and not other dissolved solid parts of the diphtheritic membranes are the carriers of the infecting material. (50.) Of the remaining infectious diseases little positive is known, which belongs to the question here under discussion. The most distinct species of organisms have been found in the contents of the alimentary ca- nal and dejections in Asiatic cholera, and described as specific causes of disease. But of how little value made anatomical investigations of the diseased mucous membranes. Not every hyphe or spore which is found in the dead tissues, can, without further proof, be regarded as cause of the morbid process, espe- cially if we consider how easily the spores of distinct mould fungi, sus- pended everywhere in the atmosphere, can get to these points and ger- minate. Oust as little is proved, as already remarked by Oertel, (I. C., 245,) by Letzerich experiment to convey the spores obtained by culture of Lis diphtheritic fungus to the mucous membranes of animals, since the pathological processes produced in the vagina or conjunctiva of his experiment animal can not be identified with diphtheria. From the bo- tanical description of his diphtheritic fungus, and his drawings of the same, everyone, who knows anything of the morphology of the fungi, must draw the conclusion that Letzerich has no fructificating fungus at all. 40 ON VEGETABLE ORGANISMS these statements are, is seen by comparing the results of the individual investigators with one another. Already, in the second cholera pandemic in Eu- rope, the “Choieraphyton” has been described in England as the real cause of the disease, which, how- ever, on careful investigation by experts, proved to be eggs of ascarides. In the third pandemic the “Choleraphyton” was again discovered in Germany (1866), bnt this time also again recognized as inno- cent eggs of ascarides. Such is also the case of the fungi observed in connection with it. The Cylindrotcenium cholera Asiatica proved to be Oidium lactis, a mould fungus, appearing almost constantly on sour milk, whilst Hallier obtained from the cholera dejections by culture Pennicillium glaucum, one of the most extensive mould fungi of the world. Nevertheless the course, the mode of dis- tribution, and the art of infection of Asiatic cholera present very many points which irresistably indicate low organisms as the cause of the disease. The same is true in regard to statements made of other infectious diseases. The sensational discoveries of Salisbury of the etiology of the intermittents, ac- cording to which microscopic alges, belonging to the Palmellen, should be the carriers of the miasm, have not been confirmed. Wood (51) even proved from Salisbury’s own preparations, that he had taken all kind of defilement and accidental additions as fungi. If now, in conclusion, we review, once more, the stated investigations, we must, at all events admit that in general they have produced very little that is posi- tive concerning the important, as well as interesting (5L) Comp, das Referat von Waldeyer in Virchow-Hirsch, Be- ricbt liber die Leistungen in der ges. Medecin in Jahr. 1868. I. 206. AS CAUSES OF DISEASE. 41 question of the nature of the causes of the infectious diseases. At all events their results serve, however, as an essential support to the zymotic theory of the infectious diseases, which was at first based on very indefinite ideas of the fermenting processes, and on their entirely vague analogy with these morbid processes, and, although it has not been entirely proved by them, it has, however, been rendered highly probable. We are, therefore, as yet far from the final decision of the question pertaining to the nature of the contagion, and it yet requires many earnest and patient laborers in this field. 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