THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 225 



Another form has been described in connection with a peculiar form of erysipela- 

 tous inflammation of the skin; another in the so-called farcin de bceuf, a disease of cat- 

 tle in Guadeloupe. 



Several times organisms of this general character, but differing considerably from 

 S. actinomyces, have been found in inflammatory and necrotic lesions of the lungs. 

 Whether these are variants of that species or independent species, and how many such 

 there are it is impossible at present to say. * 



Pharyngo-Mycosis Leptothrica. 



Certain filamentous micro-organisms called Leptothrix, whose botanical affiliations 

 are not yet clear, are of common occurrence in the mouths of healthy persons. Occa- 

 sionally, however, a persistently recurrent attack of "sore throat," with local tenderness 

 and sometimes cough and fever, is associated with the growth of masses of leptothrix 

 in the crypts of the tonsils, at the base of the tongue, on the walls of the pharynx, or 

 in the nose or superior portion of the oesophagus. The leptothrix masses or colonies 

 form thick whitish pellicles or patches which may be superficial, or in the tonsils may 

 extend deep into the crypts. These masses are usually firmly adherent, often leave 

 bleeding surfaces when removed, and the growth is apt persistently to recur. 



Microscopic examination of removed portions of the growth show tufts and bun- 

 dles of the thread-like micro-organisms, growing among or directly out from flat epi- 

 thelial cell masses and mingled with various other forms of micro-organisms, mostly 

 cocci and short bacilli. There may be overgrowth of epithelium and collections of leu- 

 cocytes in and about the leptothrix masses. In sections of the tissue or in teased frag- 

 ments treated with iodin (Lugol's solution) the leptothrix threads are readily differen 

 tiated from the tissue elements and from other micro-organisms, by their dark color. 1 



INFLUENZA. (Epidemic Catarrhal Fever ; La Grippe.) 



This is an infectious disease characterized by fever, physical and 

 mental prostration, and exudative inflammations in different parts of the 

 body. Thus there may be exudative inflammation in the respiratory, 

 digestive, and nervous systems, either singly or together. Sometimes, 

 however, these local inflammations may be absent when the disease may 

 be marked by the characteristic prostration and symptoms of toxaemia. 

 TsTone of the lesions appear to be characteristic. The lesion of the 

 lungs is usually of the broncho-pneumonic type and is apt to involve the 

 interstitial tissue. The cut surface is smooth, the exudate soft and 

 contains relatively little fibrin. The lung resembles that of " purulent 

 infiltration." 



The numerous bacterial studies which up to 1892 had been made on 

 epidemic influenza had failed to reveal any micro-organism which could 

 fairly be regarded as of etiological significance, although some of the 

 complicating inflammations of the lungs had been shown to be very fre- 

 quently associated with the pyogenic cocci Staphylococcus pyogenes 

 and Streptococcus pyogenes and the Diplococcus pneumonise. 



1 For a description of two such cases, with a selected bibliography, see Iforris and 

 Larkin, Journal of Experimental Medicine, vol. v., p. 155, 1900. 



For a critical summary of this group of organisms, with a full bibliography, see 

 monograph by Lachner-Sundoml, "Ueber Strahleiipilze," Strasburg, 1898; see also 

 Petruzchky, Kolle and Wassermann's "HaudbuchderMikroorganismt-n,"Bd. ii., p. 832. 



For full treatment and bibliography consult the monograph on " Aktinomykose 

 by JSchlegel in Kolle and Wassermann's " llandbuch der Mikroorganismen," Bd. ii., p. 861 ; 

 see also Musser, Penrce and Giryn, Trans. Assn. Am. Phys., vol. xvi., p. 208, 1901. 



8 For further detai's and bibliography consult Campbell, Medical News, April 4th, 

 896; also Pearce, Bull Univ. Peiin., vol. xiv., 1902, p. 217. 

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