12 



QUATERCENTENARY STUDIES IN PATHOLOGY 



In cases undergoing rapid resolution the opsonic index rises suddenly 

 to above normal, reaching i*i to i"6. When the resolution is more tardy 

 in nature, the rise is, as a rule, not so high, but a slight increase to the 

 normal comes on and persists, the temperature and the general condition 

 improving gradually a day or two later (Charts II. and III.). In the 

 cases of rapid resolution, the index again falls to normal in periods 

 varying from one to three days. 



In fatal cases the opsonic index goes on diminishing till the exitus 

 lethalis. This was constant in the five cases with fatal issue. In one 

 case the temperature fell to normal, after a typical pneumonia, but the 

 opsonic index did not rise. He died on the following day. 



Chart I. 



lO 



A fatal case of pneumonia. The thicker line and numbers represent the 

 opsonic curve ; the other, the temperature. 



Of complicated pneumonia, I have examined two cases of empyaema, 

 one of meningitis, one in which the opposite lung was attacked after the 

 first crisis. The meningitis case died in three days with falling opsonic 

 index. (The pneumococcus was isolated from the cerebral membranes 

 post mortem). One of the empyaema cases died, the other survived. 

 In the fatal case the pneumonia seemed to crisis, but not satisfactorily, 

 for, two days later the opsonic index rose, and continued rising ; the 



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