Journal of Applied Microscopy. 647 



CURRENT BACTERIOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



H. H. Waite, 

 University of Michigan. 



Separates of papers and books on bacteriology should be sent for review 



to H. H. Waite, 709 North University avenue, 



Ann Arbor, Michigan. 



Councilman, W. T., Mallory, F. B., and Wright, This contribution embraces the clinical 



J. H. Epidemic Cerebo-Spinal Meningitis , . , r -. 1 1 /-\c ^1 • ^ n 



and its Relation to other Forms of Menin- history of 111 cases. Of thirty-flve 



gitis. Report of State Board of Health of cases on which a post-mortem examin- 



' "^ ' ation was made, in all but four cases 



the diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis was found, and in the four cases in 



which it was not found post-mortem, it was found in one in the fluid obtained by 



spinal puncture previous to death. In two of the three remaining cases in 



which it was not found, the disease was chronic, and no acute lesions were 



found. The fourth of the series was chronic and complicated with a mixed 



tuberculous infection. 



Though the diplococci were found frequently in great numbers, both on exam- 

 inations of streak preparations and in sections, yet frequently it was exceedingly 

 difficult to obtain cultures from these cases. In only two cultures, one from the 

 cord, and the other from the brain, of ten cultures made from the latter, and 

 nine from the cord, was the organism found in a single instance, though the 

 diplococcus was found in abundance in streak preparations and in sections. 

 Cultures are much more easily obtained in acute than in chronic cases. 



According to Councilman, Mallory, and Wright, the diplococcus intracellu- 

 laris meningitidis has the following characteristics : " It is a micrococcus of 

 the same size as the ordinary pathogenic micrococci, and appears in diplococcus 

 form as two hemispheres separated by an unstained interval. It stains with any 

 of the ordinary stains for bacteria, and is decolorized by the Gram method of 

 staining. There is considerable irregularity in staining, some organisms being 

 brightly stained, others more faintly. Sometimes this difference in staining is 

 seen in a single pair of organisms, one being more brightly stained than the 

 other. There may also be considerable variation in size, and the larger organ- 

 isms stain imperfectly. In the swollen organisms there is often a brightly 

 stained spot in the center, while the remainder of the cell is scarcely colored. 

 It may have been this condition which was mistaken by Jager for a capsule. 

 These variations in size and staining appear to be due to degeneration, and are 

 more common in old than in fresh cultures." 



" The two organisms are usually sharply separated, but in some there seems 

 to be a small amount of material uniting them. Division takes place usually in 

 one plane giving rise to diplococci ; tetrads are occasionally seen. There is 

 little or no tendency to growth in the streptococcus form, although short chains 

 of four to six organisms may be found. We have never seen the streptococcus 

 formation described by Jager, and in the short chains the longitudinal line on 

 which he lays much stress was not seen." 



