798 MICROBIOLOGY OF DISEASES OF MAN AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



is very slight if any, and never of a permanent sort. Septicaemias 

 once established are generally fatal, and erysipelas can recur frequently. 



Bactericidal substances, opsonins, agglutinins and precipitins 

 have been demonstrated in immune sera, which, however, show 

 little therapeutic success. 



Streptococci are eliminated in the discharge of local infections 

 in sputum, etc., and are then probably more virulent. Infection by 

 contact from such sources is particularly dangerous. In anginas and 

 streptococcic infections of the respiratory tract, the epidemiology is 

 practically the same as for diphtheria and pneumonia. Similarly 

 erysipelas is to be treated as a contagious disease. 



In the prophylaxis of streptococcic diseases, greatest care must be 

 shown where chances of infection by the virulent strains are possible. 

 Isolation of erysipelas is universally practised in hospitals. Similarly 

 cases of puerperal sepsis and any local disease should be kept from 

 contact with other puerperae. Streptococcic pus from all sources 

 is to be carefully destroyed. 



Streptococci seem to be always present on the exposed surfaces 

 of the body and are probably capable of giving trouble should any 

 local lowered resistance occur. The prevention of this may be accom- 

 plished by strict antiseptic treatment of wounds. 



PNEUMONIA* 

 Streptococcus pneumonia 



The occurrence of a diplococcus in the large majority of cases, 

 especially of the lobar type of pneumonia, has caused this coccus to be 

 regarded as practically specific and warrants the name of Streptococcus 

 pneumonia, Diplococcus pneumonia, or Pneumococcus. As occasional 

 causes of pneumonia should be mentioned Streptococcus pyogenes, 

 Staphylococcus pyogenes var. aureus, B. coli, Bact. diphtheria, Bact. 

 influenza, B. capsulatus mucosus (pneumobacillus), B. typhosus and 

 Bact. tuberculosis. 



Pneumonia is world-wide in its distribution and is estimated to 

 form anywhere from i to 7 per cent of all cases studied in internal 

 medicine. It appears to be more frequent in regions subjected to 

 sudden changes of temperature and many more deaths occur in the 

 five months December to April than in the remainder of the year. 



* Prepared by Edward Fidlar. 



