concept
Koch's comma bacillus
comma bacillus
also: коховская запятая, Kochian comma, comma bacillus
The comma-shaped cholera bacterium identified by Robert Koch in 1883, widely reported in the Russian press the following year -- Chekhov, himself a physician, drops the topical scientific reference into a joke about horse-tram horses and vermin.
Reading notes
- From the Notebook of Ivan Ivanych (Thoughts and Notes) §30 Koch's ``comma,''
The comma-shaped cholera bacterium identified by the physician Robert Koch in 1883 -- a topical medical reference dropped into a list of things to be grateful not to be.
- To N. A. Leikin, 12 January 1887. Moscow. §6 Koch's commas, bacilli and micrococci
A joking reference to Robert Koch's 1883 identification of the comma-shaped cholera bacterium, widely reported in the Russian press through the mid-1880s; Chekhov, himself a physician, turns the topical scientific news into a comic image for the swarm of tiny ink blots and specks fouling his pen.
- Life is Wonderful! §17 Kochian "comma"
The comma-shaped cholera bacterium identified by Robert Koch in 1883 -- a topical scientific reference (Chekhov was a physician) dropped into a list of creatures no one would want to be.