PRODUCERS OF ABSCESSES, CELLULITIS AXD SEPTICAEMIA 333 



local changes follow the inoculation of small (juantities only of the 

 dead cultures; but when large amounts are injected into a vein or 

 into the abdominal cavity, toxic effects are produced. Dogs and 

 guinea-pigs thus treated usually die, showing symptoms of poisoning. 

 The hn'inolytic effect of certain products of virulent staphylococci have 

 recently been studied. In cultures they can be detected about the third 

 or fourth day and reach their maximum on the ninth to fourteenth 

 day. Virulent staphylococci are more apt to produce this substance 

 than the non-virulent, but there is no definite rule. 



A poison which injures leukocytes is also produced. This is destroyed 

 at about 57 C. 



Other poisons of less definite properties are also found in the filtrate. 



Immunization. Immunity against staphylococcus infection may be 

 produced in different animal species by the injection of increasing 

 doses of the pure culture, either living or previously sterilized by heating. 

 Wright claims to have injected dead cultures with good results in persons 

 suffering from staphylococcus skin infections. 



The blood serum of animals which have been immunized by means 

 of living or dead cultures possesses slight immunizing and curative 

 effects in other animals, but no practical use of the serum has been 

 attempted in man. 



Occurrence in Man. Practically all micro-organisms have been shown 

 by experiment to produce, under certain conditions, the formation of 

 pus by their products when inoculated into the animal body ; but, while 

 this has been demonstrated, the researches of bacteriologists show 

 that only a few species are usually concerned in the production of acute 

 abscesses in man. Of these the two most important, by reason of 

 their frequent occurrence and pathogenic power, are staphylococcus 

 pyogenes and streptococcus pyogenes. These two organisms are often 

 found in the same abscess; thus, Passet, in 33 cases of acute abscess, 

 found staphylococcus aureus and albus associated in 11, albus alone 

 in 4, albus and citreus in 2, streptococcus pyogenes alone in 8, albus 

 and streptococcus in 1, and albus, citreus, and streptococcus in 1. The 

 staphylococcus is liable to enter as a mixed infection into most infec- 

 tions due to other bacteria, and is almost always met with in all inflam- 

 mations of the skin and mucous membranes or in cavities connected 

 with them. Care must always be taken that the simple finding of 

 staphylococci does not cause one to overlook other organisms, which 

 perhaps were the original exciters of the diseased process. 



As the result of extended researches the golden staphylococcus has 

 been demonstrated not only in furuncles and carbuncles, but also in 

 various pustular affections of the skin and mucous membranes 

 impetigo, sycosis, phlyctenular conjunctivitis; in purulent conjunctivitis 

 and inflammation of the lacrymal sac; in acute abscesses formed in the 

 lymphatic glands, the parotid gland, the tonsils, the mamma?, etc.; in 

 metastatic abscesses and purulent collections in the joints; in empyema, 

 infectious osteomyelitis, ulcerative endocarditis, pyelonephritis, abscess 

 of the liver, phlebitis, etc. It is one of the chief etiological factors 



THF 

 IIKMX/FRP 



- 



S'.TY 1 



