1010] VETERINARY MEHIl'IXE. G79 



liininary communication iii regard to a new method of wound treatment 

 evolved From observations of the Bait-pack method. 



Clinical and bacteriological studies of wounds treated by the Bait-pack 

 method led to the discovery of the constant presence, In wounds which respond 

 to this method and from which a foul odor is always emitted, of a nonpatho- 

 genic spore-bearing anaerobe belonging to the proteolytic group of organisms. 

 In wounds whlcb under the salt-pack method do aol progress favorably and 

 emll no odor, this bacillus is invariably absent, a brief outline Is given of 

 the morphological and cultural characteristics of tin- organism which has been 

 named the Reading bacillus. 



The theory is advanced thai under suitable anaerobic conditions provided by 

 salt-park or sphagnum moss dressings, the bacillus acts in virtue <>f its proteo 

 lytic [idwci- mi the devitalized and necrotic tissues of septic wounds and possibly 

 on the tox-albumins contained therein. Case reports are given in which 

 wounds which have been previously treated unsuccessfully by various methods 

 have healed rapidly when sown with living cultures of the bacillus. As the 

 organism is probably present in the larger number of Infected wounds, it is 

 often necessary only to open thoroughly I he wound, Irrigate it with sterile 

 water or saline, and till it completely with the salt or sphagnum dressing. 

 The development after two or three days of the characteristic foul odor is 



an indication of the presence in the wound id' the Reading bacillus. If i dor 



develops, the wound should then be sown with cultures of the bacillus. The 

 dressing is left on without Change for at least six or seven days. 



Character and properties of the " Reading " bacillus, on which a new 

 method of treatment of wounds has been based, it. Donaldson {.lour. Path, 

 mid Baet., 82 (1918), No. J. in>. 129-151, pi. l. fig. I). — This is a summary of the 

 research work on which was based the new method of treatment of septic gun- 

 shot wounds noted above. In addition to the morphological and cultural char- 

 acteristics previously noted., the following properties of the Reading bacillus 

 are reported : 



The s[xires were found to possess a high degn f resistance to heat and to 



drying. It is thought that this property may be utilized in providing the 

 vehicle for the transmission of spores by growing the bacillus in broth contain- 

 ing moss, which can then be dried and used as the packing for wounds. 



The bacillus did not grow readily in media containing more than 5 per cent 

 of salt, which is thought to indicate that high concentrations of salt in the 

 wound are not only unnecessary but detrimental to the growth of the bacillus. 

 The limiting concentrations of certain antiseptics on the growth of the bacillus 

 in broth solution were found to be phenol and inert uric oxid 1 per cent of a 1 

 in 20 solution, eusol »> per cent, and I >. kin's solution 22 per cent. The growth 

 Iu any given concentration of acrillavhie appeared to depend on the number of 

 organisms sown. 



The bacillus was found to be absolutely nonpathogenic to animals. It is 

 Stated that its introduction in pure culture in human beings and in horses and 

 mules has never been followed by any pathogenic effect but, on the contrary, 

 has invariably led to a rapid cleansing of the wounds. 



Experimental evidence on its growth in the presence of other organisms and 

 in cooked meat medium and its action on toxins confirm the conclusions pre- 

 viously drawn that the success of the method does not depend on inhibition 

 by the Reading bacillus of the growth of pathogenic organisms in the wound, 

 hut that it acts by virtue of its proteoclastic enzyins as an organic catalyst 

 which hydrolyzes the substrate of dead protein and probably also the toxic 

 degradation products of other organisms. 



