On the curative effect of carbonic acid gas or other forms of carbon in cholera, for different forms of fever, and other diseases / by C.J. Lewis.

Lewis, C. J. (Charles James), 1875-1937.

Date:: 1903

Credit: On the curative effect of carbonic acid gas or other forms of carbon in cholera, for different forms of fever, and other diseases / by C.J. Lewis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$B typhosns.—T\xQ plate contains typical typhoid colonies in consideralde number and of small size. B. coli This organism seems unaHected l)y the COg gas. r,-choleric was recovered in pure culture nil- iiiti^ibated 111 COg. The plate rapidly liipiefied wlien left in d ffci-on W r‘^^^^tiire somewhat Jinnf ^ ordinary Vilirio cholenc. Instead of licpiefying in the fc lapc of a funnel along the stab, the organism licpiefied the inediiim niorc especiaHy at the surface. Perhaps the organism after its fortnight in bU.2 felt air-hunger and gre^v as near the surface as possible. i?csM/J._The carbonic acid gas had little effect on P. typhosus and L. coll communis. It, however, markedly retarded the growth and licpiefaetion of V. cholerm, tliough it did not entirely restrain it. The fact that the cholera organism was not completely aiiested in this case niay have been due to a variety of causes. There were not many cholera colonies in the plate, and these must have been derived from the more resistant individuals of the original culture. Now and then particular individuals resist, when the general bulk of the organisms are entirely inhibited and destroyed. Another inliuence may have been exerted by the simultaneous presence of B. coli, which, accord- ing to ]\Ietschnikoff and Wiener, facilitates the growth of V. cholerie in gelatine plates. Experiment 8. To ascertain the effect of carbonic acid gas on the growth in agar plate of V. choleric, B. typhosus, and B. coli communis, and on the growth on blood-serum of B. diphtherise. Control plates and tube were incubated in air. Temperature of incubation, 37° C. Percentage of carbonic acid gas, 80 per cent, at first; 70 per cent, foimd present at the end of 5 days. After 5 days:— V. cholerce.—No colonies visible in the COg plate, though the organism had grown well in the air plate. B. typhosus.—Both plates contained a large number of small colonies, perhaps more plentiful in the air plate. The COg plate, when examined witli the low power of tlie microscope ( x 105) showed colonies which were irregularly circular, not so uniform in shape as in the air plate similarly examined. Some of the colonies were oval, and many less coloured than in the air plate. They were tested Ijy subculture in broth, gelatine stab, milk, and glucose gelatine, and found to be typical B. typhosus unchanged in morphological and cultural characteristics. B. coli.—There was no notable difference in the plates in air and COg- 'I'he colonies in tlie COg plate examined l)y the microscope (x 105) were often more oval and somewhat paler tlian in the ail- jdate. 'i'hc colonies were tested by suliculture in broth, gelatine stab, milk, and glucose jelly, and found to lie B. coli unebanged in morjiliology or reactions. The indol reaction was positive in broth after 48 liours at 37° G, thus sliowing that carlxmic acid gas does not interfere with the production of indol by B. coli.$