Bacteria of the Digestive Apparatus 85 



Rettger * found the Bacillus enteritidis sporogenes regu- 

 larly present in the human feces and believes it to be respon- 

 sible for some of the putrefactive processes that occur there. 



The vagina, on account of its acid secretions, harbors 

 but few bacteria. In a study of the vaginal secretions of 

 40 pregnant women who had not been subjected to digital 

 examinations, douches, or baths, Bergholm t found but 

 few organisms of limited variety. 



The uterus harbors no bacteria in health, and but few in 

 disease. The intervening acidity of the vagina makes it 

 difficult for bacteria from the surface to penetrate so deeply, 

 and tha tenacious alkaline mucus of the cervix is an addi- 

 tional barrier to their progress. Careful studies of the 

 bacteriology of the uterine secretions have been made by 

 Gottschalk and Immerwahr J and Doderlein and Win- 

 terintz. 



The urethra harbors a few cocci which enter the meatus 

 from the surface and remain local in distribution. 



The normal bladder is free from bacteria. 



The nose constantly receives enormous numbers of bac- 

 teria in the dust of the inspired atmosphere. These organ- 

 isms are too numerous and too various to enumerate, and 

 might, indeed, comprehend the entire bacterial flora. But 

 in spite of the large numbers of organisms received, the nose 

 retains scarcely any, its mucous membranes seeming to be 

 provided with means of disposing of the organisms. Among 

 those best able to withstand the destructive influences, and, 

 therefore, most apt to be found in the deeper passages, are 

 the pseudodiphtheria bacillus, streptococci, pneumococci, 

 staphylococci, Bacillus pneumoniae (Friedlander) , Bacillus 

 subtilis and sarcina. A complete review of the subject with 

 references to the literature has been made by Hasslauer.|| 



The larynx and trachea contain very few bacteria and 

 probably have no permanent parasitic flora. 



The lungs harbor no bacteria. A few micro-organisms 

 doubtless reach them in the inspired air, but the defensive 

 mechanisms soon dispose of them. 



* "Jour, of Biological Chemistry," n, i and 2, Aug., 1906, p. 71. 



t "Archiv f. Gynak.," Bd. LXIV, Heft. 3. 



J Ibid., 1896, Bd. L, Heft 3. 



Hegar's " Beitrage fur Geburtshiilfe und Gynakologie," Bd. in, 

 Heft. 2. 



|| "Centralbl. f. Bakt. u. Parasitenk. I. abt. Referata.," Bd. xxxvn, 

 Nos. 1-3, p. i, and Nos. 4-6, p. 97. 



