PATHOGENIC BACTERIA 235 



Non-specific infectious diseases are those which are not 

 caused by any one definite bacterium. The various inflam- 

 mator} 7 processes which characterize so many diseases (see 

 table below) are examples of pathological conditions which are 

 not specific and may be due to a variety of microorganisms. 

 For example, M. pneumoniae, B. coli, Str. pyogenes, and many 

 other bacteria may produce inflammation in various parts 

 of the body. Infections, for example, with Str. pyogenes, 

 may produce, depending upon the avenue of infection, dis- 

 eases such as erysipelas, puerperal septicemia, septicemia, 

 tonsillitis, abscesses, peritonitis, etc. These diseases are widely 

 different in their symptomatology. The following incomplete 

 tables will serve to give an outline of the various common in- 

 fectious diseases : 



PARTIAL LIST OF SPECIFIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES DUE TO 

 BACTERIA 



Disease Etiological Bacterium 



Gonorrhoea Micrococcus gonorrhoeas 



Chancroids Bacillus chancroides mallis 

 Meningitis, cerebro-spinal, epi- Micrococcus meningitidis intracellu- 



demic laris 



Typhoid fever Bacillus typhosus 



Relapsing fever Spirillum obermeieri 



Malta fever Micrococcus melitensis 



Dysentery, bacillary Bacillus dysentariae Shiga 



Tuberculosis Bacterium tuberculosis 



Glanders Bacterium mallei 



Tetanus Bacillus tetani 



Influenza Bacterium influenzas 



