The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-13

| ined 1t. Smeared around the inside of
the glass, and adhering to the bottom
of the little plunger, was a whitish,
| misunderstanding substance This was
no ordinary hypodermic solution. II
was half liquefied gelatine such as
knew so well as the medium fer the
cultivation of micro-organisms. For a
| moment l felt half stunned. What in
fernal culture might it not contain?
/ Time was flying, and at any moment
might be discovered. hastily
slipped the syringe into my pocket, and
closing the trunk, replaced 1t. and,
switching off the electric light. returned
to the deck. My temples were throb-
bing, and It was with difficulty that
could keep my self-control. 1 made up
my mind quickly. Fietta would, of
course, miss the syringe. but the
! chances were that he would not do so
that night. AS yet there was nothing
apparently the matter with the hoy, but
| might there not be flowing through his
veins some poisonous germs of disease
which only required a period of incu-
baton for their development?
At daybreak the beat would arrive at
Malta. would go on shore at once
! call upon some medical man and lay
the case before him in confidence, in
the hope Of his having the things /
! should need in order to examine the
contents of the syringe. If 1 found any
organisms, / would take the law into
my own hands, and carry the boy back
TO England by the next boat.
! No sleep visited me that night, and
lay tossing to and fro in my bunk long
ing for daylight. At 6 a. m. 1 heard
the engine bell ring, and the screw
suddenly slow down 70 half speed.
! leapt up and went on deck I could see
the outline of the rock-bound fortress
and the lighthouse of st. Elmo loom
ing more wildly every moment. AS
soon as we were at anchor and tho gang
way down, hailed one of the little
green boats and told the men to row
me TO the shore. 1 drove at once to the
Grand hotel in the Strada Reale, and
asked the italian guide the address Of
a medical man. He gave me the ad-
Gress of an English doctor who lived
close by, and l went there at once to
see him. 1t was now o'clock. and
found him up. 1 made my apologies
for the early hour of my visit. put the
whole matter before him, and produced
the syringe. For q moment ne was in
clined to take my story with increduli-
ty, but by degrees he became interest
ed, and ended by inviting me to break
fast with him. After the meal we re-
paired to his consulting room to make
our investigation. He brought out his
microscope, which saw, to my delight,
was of the latest design, and / set to
work at once, while he watched me
with evident interest. At last the cru
ciaI moment came. and 1 bent over the
instrument and adjusted the focus on
my preparation. My suspicious were
only too we'll confirmed by what / saw
The substance which I had extracted
from the syringe was mass Of micro
organisms, but Of what nature did not
I II H.
them before. L drew back.
IT wish you would look at this I
said. You tell me you have devoted
considerable attention to bacterioligy.
Please tell me what you see."
DR.. Benson applied his eye to the in
strument, regulating the focus for a
few moments, in silence; then he raised
his head and looked at me with a Gu
rlous expression.
Where did this culture come from ?"
he asked.
From London. I presume" I an
swered.
cit is extraordinary" he said, with
emphasis. "but there is no doubt what
ever that these organisms are the spe-
cific germs Of the very disease / have
studied here so assiduously; they are
the micrococci of Mediterranean fever,
the minute round or oval bacteria.
! jumped to my feet.
as that SOP" cried. The diabolical
nature Of the plot was only too plain
These germs injected into a patient
would produce a fever which only oc-
ours In the Mediterranean. The fact
that the boy had been in the Mediter-
ranean even for a short time, would be
a complete blind as to the way in
which they obtained access to the body.
f,I- re
Cured from natural causes.
How long is the period OF incuba-
tion?" asked.
about ten days" replied DR.. Ben
son. 1 extended my hand.
You have done me an Invaluable
service" I said.
81 may possibly be able to do you a
still further service" was his reply.
IT have made Mediterranean fever the
study of my life, and have, 1 believe,
discovered an antitoxin for it. I have
tried my discovery on the patients OF
the naval hospital with excellent re-
suits. The local disturbance is slight,
and I have never found bad symptoms
follow the treatment. If you will bring
the boy to me I will administer the an
tidote without delay"
K considered for a moment. then
said: my position is a terrible one,
and am inclined to accept your propo-
sition. Under the circumstances IL is
the only chance"
"It is repeated Dr. Benson. 'T shall
be at your service whenever you need
me-
1 bade him goodbye and quickly left
the house.
It was now 10 o'clock My first OBJ
ject was to find DR.. Fietta, to speak to
him boldly. and take the boy away
from him by main force. if necessary
I rushed back to the Grand hotel, where
I learned that boy and a man. an
swering TO the description OF DR.. Fietta
and Cecil, had breakfasted there. but
had gone out again Immediately after
wards. The Hydaspes. 1 knew, was to
coal, and would not leave Malta before
l o'clock. My only chance, therefore,
was to catch them as they came on
board Until then I could do nothing.
At IL o'clock I went down to the quay
and took boat to the Hydaspes. See
| ing no sign OF Fietta and the boy on
deck, I made my way at once to Lord
Kairns cabin The door was open and
the place in confusion-every vestige OF
baggage had disappeared. Absolutely