BACTERIA IN SURGICAL LESIONS. 449 



usually, any indication that the organism is seriously 

 affected by their presence. 2. We cannot admit that in 

 these cases the vibrios have penetrated into the interior 

 of the abscess through the lymphatic system, or through 

 the circulating system, both being intact. The pus of 

 warm abscesses in adults often contains vibrios ; if they 

 occur in the case of infants the fact has not been ob- 

 served. 3. The pus of cold abscesses in the adult, as in 

 the infant, never contains them." (Magnin.) 



The vibrios of Bergeron are doubtless identical 

 with the micrococcus described by later observers, 

 which often occurs in chains. The observations of 

 Billroth, Cheyne, and Ogston, are in accord with 

 those of Bergeron as to the presence of micrococci 

 in acute abscesses, and their absence from chronic 

 abscesses. Cheyne has shown, however, that when 

 these organisms are proved to be present in pus 

 from an abscess, by microscopical examination, this 

 pus often fails to fertilize a culture-fluid, thus 

 proving that the micrococci are no longer living. 

 He says: 



" Of acute abscesses, I had up to May, 1879, inocu- 

 lated from thirty-two cases. In twenty-five of these no 

 growth of organisms occurred, while from six micro- 

 cocci were obtained. In no case did I get bacteria " 

 (1. c., p. 253). 



Ogston examined the pus from eighty-two ab- 

 scesses, all of which had been "hitherto unopened." 

 The pus was taken from them by means of a needle 

 or a knife while still flowing from the incision, 

 spread out in a thin film upon a slide, immediately 



29 



