BACTERIOLOGY OF WHOOPING-COUGH 27 



Bronchitis. This comprises a more or less miscellaneous group 

 of cases. All had bronchitis, some for a long period, while in others 

 it occurred in a more acute condition. In some cases it was a com- 

 plication of some other disease. The influenza bacilli were found 

 in five of the 12 cases examined. In two of these cases they were 

 very numerous, by far exceeding all other organisms present. One 

 case in this series was a typhoid which began with a marked bron- 

 chitis. Here was found, in practically pure culture, the M. catar- 

 rhalis, but no influenza-like organisms. This micrococcus was 

 found in only one other case of this group. 



Varicella. Throat swabs from n cases of varicella in young 

 children were examined in the usual way. All of the children had 

 a slight cough, and three had at the time of the examination a gonor- 

 rheal vaginitis. The influenza-like bacilli were isolated in seven of 

 the eleven cases; in two they were numerous. Streptococci were 

 found in eight, . diphtheria bacilli in one, and the M. catarrhalis 

 in all of the cases. The latter organism was very numerous in two 

 cases in which the influenza-like organisms were absent. 



Normal throats. For these examinations swabs were made from 

 the posterior wall of the pharynx and were for the most part obtained 

 from medical students. In 20 cases the influenza-like bacilli were 

 found twice; in neither case were they numerous. The throats of 

 these two individuals appeared normal, and they gave no history of 

 any throat trouble for at least three months previously, remaining 

 perfectly well for several weeks at least following the examination. 



Table 2 gives a summary of the occurrence of influenza-like bacilli 

 in the diseases investigated. It should be noted that in all the diseases 

 except whooping-cough but one examination was made. In this 

 disease, in a number of cases, several examinations were made before 

 finding the bacilli. It is therefore quite probable that if more exami- 

 nations were made in the other conditions the percentage of positive 

 results would have been higher. 



The bacilli from these various sources were carefully observed 

 and their properties tested. Every organism was transplanted to 

 non-hemoglobin media, and not one was found which would grow. 

 Particular attention was given to the test on ascites-agar and serum- 

 agar, as so many reports have been made that organisms of this kind 



