THE MENINGOCOCCUS 



113 



infection is not known, but is probably through infected 

 nasal secretions. This, of course, indicates the measures 

 which should be taken in order to prevent the spread of 

 the disease to others. 



Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis has been treated 

 with specific antimeningococcus serum, obtained by in- 

 jecting horses with cultures of the meningococcus. 







Fig. 36. Meningococcus in pus cells: Pus cells containing dip- 

 lococci from the meninges. A few diplococci are in the exudate 

 outside of the pus cells. Between the pus cells there are delicate 

 fibrillae of fibrin. The illustration is an accurate representation of a 

 group of cells in the field of the microscope (Councilman) . 



The serum is injected, by means of lumbar puncture, into 

 the spinal canal, and the results thus obtained have been 

 very encouraging, the death-rate being but one-half that 

 of cases not so treated. As in all treatment with a 

 specific sera, it is useless to employ antimeningococcus 

 serum in cases of meningitis produced by germs other 

 than the meningococcus. It is important, therefore, 

 before employing the serum to make sure that the 



