92 Kmisas Academy of Science. 



XII. FAMOUS PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 



In 1867 one of the most important of pathogenic germs — 

 streptococcus — was caught red handed. In association with 

 other germs, it is responsible for suppuration, which once 

 caused so much destruction of life. Now we know that several 

 species of streptococci exist, and that they are largely respon- 

 sible for such serious diseases as tonsilitis; endocarditis, in 

 which the valves of the heart are destroyed ; and arthritis. 



Staphylococcus, an intimate associate of the streptococcus 

 in wound infections, was not discovered until the years 1884 

 and 1885. 



The Bacillus leprse was discovered by Hansen, of Bergen, in 

 1872, and now it is universally recognized as the cause of 

 leprosy. The disease appears to have prevailed in Egypt 3000 

 to 4000 B. c. The Hebrew writers frequently refer to it. India, 

 China, Greece and Rome in ancient times were familiar with 

 the disease. It appears to have reached its culmination during 

 the Middle Ages, when it was prevalent all over Europe. It is 

 said that there were at least 20,000 leper asylums during the 

 sixteenth century. Since then the disease has greatly declined. 

 To-day it is more or less confined to China, Australasia, the 

 Philippines, the Sandwich Islands, West Indies, Mexico, Nor- 

 way, Sweden and Russia. The bacillus resembles in many re- 

 spects the tubercle bacillus. Contrary to the general belief, it 

 is not highly contagious. 



The spirillum of relapsing fever, so common to the southern 

 Russian peasants, was first seen in the blood of its victims in 

 1873. 



Many microbes depend upon some kind of carrier for their 

 preservation and deposition into living flesh. Usually these 

 carriers are insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, lice, ticks and 

 bed bugs. The microbe patiently lives within the intestines of 

 their carriers until the latter find their victim. Then as the 

 carrier proceeds to fill up on the blood of the victim, the mic- 

 robe makes its double-quick entry into the circulation of man 

 and begins to propagate in this new and conducive environ- f j 

 ment. In case of relapsing fever the bed bug serves as the car- 

 rier. 



The Diplococcus intracellular is was discovered and described ':' 

 by Weichselbaum in 1877. Since then this germ has been 

 found to be the etiological factor in epidemic cerebrospinal 



