364 Suppuration 



be the cause of a pseudomembranous angina, 3 cases of 

 which came under his observation. 



Bezancon* has isolated this organism from a case of menin- 

 gitis. Forneacaf has reported a case of generalized tetra- 

 genous septicemia. 



BACILLUS PYOCYANEUS (GESSARD). 



General Characteristics. A minute, slender, actively motile, flag- 

 ellated, non-sporogenous, chromogenic and feebly pathogenic, aerobic 

 or facultative anaerobic, liquefying bacillus, staining by ordinary 

 methods, but not by Gram's method. 



In some cases pus has a peculiar bluish or greenish color, 

 which depends upon the presence of Bacillus pyocyaneus 

 of Gessard.l 



Distribution. The bacillus appears to be a rather com- 

 mon saprophyte, being found in feces, manure, and water. 



Fig. no. Bacillus pyocyaneus, from an agar-agar culture. X 1000 

 (Itzerott and Niemann). 



It easily takes up its residence upon the skin and mucous 

 membranes, and has been found in the perspiration. It 

 sometimes occurs as a saprophyte upon the surgical dressings 

 applied to wounds, and sometimes invades the tissues 

 through wounds, to occasion dangerous infections. 



*"Semaine Medicale," 1898. 



t"Riforma Medica," 1903. 



J "De la Pyocyanine et de son Microbe," These de Paris, 1882. 



