On the Action of Certain Bacteria 



In producing Cell-necrosis, with Special Reference to those of the 

 Bacillus Enteritidis (Gaertner) Group* 



It is well recognised that certain bacteria have the property of inducing 

 a necrotic action in the cells attacked by them. These organisms may 

 be roughly classed under two heads. • There are, first, those which cause 

 lesions more or less limited to one tissue or organ, for example, B. 

 diphtheriae, B. mallei, B. necrophorus and B. typhosus. The necrotic 

 areas occurring in the liver in typhoid in man may be cited as an 

 instance in which these particular lesions occupy a secondary place in 

 the pathology of the disease. There is, however, another group of 

 organisms, including B. pseudo-tuberculosis rodentium, B. pestis and the 

 tubercle bacillus, which cause widespread focal necroses, presenting a 

 characteristic pathological picture. 



The necrotic effects are generally attributed to bodies — proteins of 

 Buchner — in the cell-substance of the bacteria. In regard to the nature 

 of these bodies, however, very little is so far known. 



It is proposed in what follows to record some observations of a 

 guinea-pig disease, recently met with in Bombay, due to an organism 

 belonging to the B. enteritidis (Gsertner) group, with lesions closely 

 resembling those of pseudo-tubercle. The attempt will also be made to 

 correlate its pathological features in respect of the characteristic necroses 

 with those of diseases caused by other members of the group. 



In the Plague Research Laboratory, a considerable number of young 

 guinea-pigs in the stock died apparently from a common disease during 

 the monsoon months, i.e., June, July, August and September. The 

 animals were about three or four weeks old ; the disease was not 

 observed among full-grown guinea-pigs. The post mortem appearances 

 of several of those examined are appended. 



(289) U 



