62 STUDY AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA 



excreted in the urine of patients, and a diagnostic point is to make plates from the 

 urine. Such urine applied to abraded surfaces causes infection. 



The serum of patients shows agglutinating power as early as the fifth day of 

 the disease, and this may persist for years after recovery. Nicolle has advised using 

 serum heated to 56 C. for 30 minutes for the agglutination test, nonspecific agglu- 

 tinins being thereby destroyed. Carriers may be of importance in Malta fever and 

 are best detected by agglutination tests. 



A high mononuclear increase may be found in this disease. 



