Bacteriology. — "Researches relating to the Etiology of Febris 

 Exanthematicus. By Dr. C. J. C. van Hoogenhuyze. (Commu- 

 nicated by Prof. C. Eykaian). 



(Communicated in the meeting of June 30, 1917). 



Many researchers have been engaged in studying the causation of 

 Febris exanthematicus, and several organisms have ah-eady been 

 looked upon as the causative agent of this disease, such as protozoa, 

 spirilla, diplococci and diplobacilli. Considering, that even in such 

 cases in which the researcher succeeded in growing pure cultures 

 from the blood or from an organ, the several findings did not agree, 

 or did not seem to agree in every respect, so that we do not know 

 what to think of them, all these inquiries are looked at askance 

 and it is generally acknowledged that the real etiological factor has 

 not yet been found. Every one pursuing this line of research should, 

 therefore, record his results for the purpose of comparison with 

 those thus far obtained. Fortunately cases of spotted typhus are 

 few and far between in Holland. When, therefore, some cases oc- 

 curred at Amsterdam a few months ago, I seized the opportunity to 

 study them, and determined to publish my observations for the 

 reasons stated above, although I for one feel convinced that one 

 investigation is not of great value. The patients were treated in the 

 Wiihelmina-Hospital. Through the kindness of Dr. Kuiper, the Director, 

 and of Dr. v. Zadelhoff, the physician of the ward, I was in a 

 position to examine the blood of one of the patients who was still 

 YQry ill. 



This patient F. W. R., 59 years of age, was admitted to the 

 Hospital on Feb. 24. On the 20^'' he had had chills. On the 21»^ he 

 was laid up with head-ache, gripes, and back-ache. 



Status praesens: Patient does not look ill, does not complain; 

 throat: somewhat red; tongue: coated and tremulous when put out; 

 full pulse, not dicrotic; Lungs, heart: no anomalies ; Bowels: present 

 nothing particular. Patellar reflexes: high; plantar reflexes: normal. 

 Many roseolae on chest, belly, back, arms and legs. Widal negative. 

 In the urine much albumin, much urobilin. Sediment: some red, 

 and white blood corpuscles, kidney-epithelium, some cylinders. Blood : 

 number of leucocytes 7000. Temperature: See list I. 



