262 ABSTRACTS 



These organisms were isolated by means of sputum and nasal 

 cultures. 



Two cases are reported in which after recovery there were isolated 

 pure cultures of capsulated pneumococci in one and Bacillus influenzae 

 in the other. Such findings emphasize the necessity of taking pre- 

 cautions against infection from persons who are undoubtedly carriers 

 of organisms that may cause grip. — M. W. C. 



So-Called Grippe. J. B. Rucker, Jr. New York Med. Jour., 1916, 



103, 294. 



Bacteriological examinations of 20 cases of so-called grippe presented 

 findings as follows: 8 containing pneumococcus, typical at least in 

 morphology; 6 containing atypical pneumococcus or Streptococcus niu- 

 cosus; 20 containing small gram positive biscuit-shaped diplococci; 2 

 containing the bacillus of Pfeiffer, in smear only. 



Of all organisms isolated, pathogenicity for animals was established 

 only with the small gram positive diplococci. These organisms caused 

 death of mice in 2 cases, and typical grippe-like symptoms in a rabbit 

 in 1 case. Results of examination of these 20 cases suggest that the 

 etiological factor in the recent epidemic of so-called grippe is the small 

 gram positive diplococcus isolated from all cases. — M. W. C. 



Routine Wassermann Examinations of Four Thousand Hospital Pa- 

 tients. I. C. Walker and D. A. Haller. Jour. A. M. A., 1916, 

 66, 488. 



Routine examinations of 4000 hospitals admissions were made. The 

 prevalence of unsuspected syphilis and the frequency of positive reac- 

 tions in various diseases were studied. 



The reaction was positive in 600 cases. Of the 600 positive patients 

 48 were in the very early stages of syphilis, 306 were in a later stage, 

 and 120 were in cases having involvement of the central nervous sys- 

 tem. 13 cases were congenital. 



There were 54 positive cases with aortic disease, 10 with epilepsy, 

 10 with disease of the liver, 10 with disease of the kidney, 9 with pneu- 

 monia, 7 with diabetes, and 13 distributed among miscellaneous diseases. 

 The authors conclude that syphilis is more prevalent than is ordi- 

 narily supposed and that infectious diseases, such as typhoid fever, 

 pneumonia, tuberculosis and scarlet fever, do not cause false positive 

 reactions. — G. H. S. 



The Treatment of Gastric Ulcer. A. F. R. Andresen. Medical Record, 



1916, 89, 4.57-459. 



A rational, specific therapy of gastric ulcer should be based upon the 

 fact that this pathological conditions is due to an infective process, the 

 etiological agent of which is Streptococcus viridans. 



Treatment in cases of simple ulcer should consist first of removal of 

 the cause of infection, second of rest of the infected part, and third of 

 efforts to overcome the infection and to repair the injured tissues. 



