SUPPURA TION. 1 59 



only positive method of diagnosticating the one from 

 the other is by means of a careful bacteriologic examina- 

 tion. Such an examination should always be made, as it 

 has much weight in connection with the treatment. Of 

 course, in streptococcus angina no benefit could be ex- 

 pected from the diphtheria antitoxic serum. 



The streptococcus of Rosenbach is thought by many 

 to be identical with a streptococcus described by Fehleisen 

 as the Streptococcus erysipelatis (Fig. 49). The two or- 



FIG. 49. Streptococcus erysipelatis, seen in a section through human skin ; 

 x 500 (Frankel and Pfeiffer) . 



ganisms have much in common, but much difference of 

 opinion exists upon the subject of their identity. It may 

 seem unwise to omit the Streptococcus erysipelatis as a 

 major topic for discussion, but the similarity of the or- 

 ganism to that just described has caused us to consider 

 them in the same connection. 



The streptococci of erysipelas can be obtained in almost 

 pure culture from the serum which oozes from a puncture 

 made in the margin of an erysipelatous patch. They are 

 small cocci, forming long chains generally from six to 



