24 



FREDERICK EBERSON 



In all, diphtheroids were obtained from 21 different sources and 

 these fell into 12 distinct fermentation groups, as shown in Table 3. 

 The greatest number of organisms comprised the group of nonfer- 

 menters and here is to be noted the fact that of 13 strains from Hodg- 

 kin's disease, 8 came under this head. However, little significance need 

 be attached to this point, inasmuch as strains from Hodgkin's glands 

 fell into four other groups besides this one. In the same way, it is to 

 be noted that strains from the eye and nose fall into 4 and 3 different 

 groups, respectively. 



TABLE 3 

 SOURCE AND FERMENTATIVE REACTIONS OF DIPHTHEROIDS 



It becomes evident that neither the source nor the cultural charac- 

 ters serve to distinguish the supposed cause of Hodgkin's disease from 

 numerous organisms which may be regarded as harmless saprophytes ; 

 also that diphtheroid organisms comprise a greater number of groups 

 than hitherto supposed. 



There appears to be a definite correlation between fermentative 

 properties and source with regard to those organisms which were iso- 

 lated from the nose and throat. These are characterized by relative 

 inability to ferment carbohydrates. Acid formation in dextrose 

 occurred but 6 times of 19; in dextrose and saccharose, 3 of 19; in 



