BACILLUS TYPHOSUS. 429 



would not. Thus, Schultz has reported lately that 

 among 100 cases of non-typhoid febrile diseases 

 apparently positive results were obtained in 19 with 

 dilutions of 1 to 5, in 11 of these with 1 to 10, in 

 7 with 1 to 15, in 3 with 1 to 20, and in 1 a very faint 

 reaction with 1 to 25; whereas in as many cases of true 

 typhoid he never failed with dilutions of 1 to 50. In 

 these experiments it must be noted, however, that the 

 time-limit was from one to two hours. A faint re- 

 action with a 1 to 25 dilution with a time-limit of two 

 hours indicates less agglutinating substance than an 

 immediate complete reaction with a 1 to 10 dilution. 



From an experience with the practical application 

 of the serum test for the diagnosis of typhoid fever 

 extending over three years, it may be said that this 

 method of diagnosis is simple and easy of perform- 

 ance in the laboratory by an expert bacteriologist, but 

 it is not to be recommended for routine employment 

 by practising physicians as a clinical test unless they 

 have had experience; that with the modifications as 

 now employed, and due regard to the avoidance of all 

 possible sources of error, it is as reliable a method as 

 any other bacteriological test at present in use; and 

 that as such, though not absolutely infallible, the Widal 

 test is an indispensable aid to the clinical diagnosis of 

 irregular or slightly marked typhoid fever. 



The Isolation of Typhoid Bacilli from Suspected Feces, 

 Urine, Blood, Water, etc. In the bacteriological study 

 of typhoid infection for diagnostic and other purposes, 

 attempts have been made to isolate the specific bacilli 

 from the blood, rose-spots, sweat, urine, feces, and by 

 spleen puncture. Although the results obtained by 

 puncture of the spleen have been encouraging and have 



