580 BACTERIA IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



believe that the bacillus discovered by Koch and studied by Kartulis 

 (see Bacillus of Kartulis) is the cause of one form of " Egyptian ca- 

 tarrhal conjunctivitis." The non-infectious forms of conjunctivitis 

 can scarcely be supposed to be due to the action of specific micro- 

 organisms; but it is probable that an inflammation resulting from 

 any cause, such as a chemical or mechanical irritant, may be ag- 

 gravated and become chronic as a result of the presence of various 

 microorganisms, and especially of the pyogenic micrococci. 



Kain (1892) from a case of croupous conjunctivitis obtained a 

 bacillus which when introduced into the conjunctival sacs of rabbits 

 is said to have caused a purulent, membranous inflammation. 



Wilbrand, Sanger, and Staelin (1893) have investigated an epi- 

 demic of conjunctivitis in patients at their eye clinic in Hamburg 

 with the following results: "With a high degree of probability we 

 may conclude that a diplococcus plays the principal role in the eti- 

 ology of this epidemic. As already indicated, these diplococci in 

 smear preparations resemble the gonococcus of Neisser, and were rec- 

 ognized as such by all unprejudiced and competent observers among 

 our colleagues; but this decision soon proved to be erroneous, inas- 

 much as inoculations in the urethra of two men with the secretion 

 from two severe cases, at the outset of the epidemic, gave a com- 

 pletely negative result. Further, the diplococci lying in the cells are 

 distinguished from gonococci by the fact that they stain by Gram's 

 method, and that they show an evident growth in nutrient gelatin." 

 In their culture experiments the authors named obtained four differ- 

 ent diplococci viz., Micrococcus flavus desidens, a common, non- 

 pathogenic species, found in the air and in water ; Micrococcus sub- 

 flavus, a micrococcus closely resembling the " trachomacoccus " of 

 Michel ; and a diplococcus which they believe to be new and which 

 proved to be pathogenic for animals. They are not, however, cer- 

 tain whether any one of these corresponds with the diplococcus found 

 in the pus cells, and which, unlike the gonococcus, does not stain by 

 Gram's method. Certain cases were characterized by the presence 

 of bacilli and the absence of diplococci. The bacillus found in these 

 cases, within the pus cells, corresponded with the bacillus first dis- 

 covered by Koch in cases of Egyptian ophthalmia (Bacillus of Kartu- 

 lis, No. 138). 



4 'CORN-STALK DISEASE" IN CATTLE. 



Billings in 1888 ascribed this disease to a bacillus, and Burrill (1889) sub- 

 sequently described "a bacterial disease of corn." According to Billings 

 the bacillus of Burrill is identical with that to which he ascribes the " corn- 

 stalk disease" of cattle. Pyle (1893) says: "Comparing the two germs in 

 cultivation, I doubt their identity, though I recognize their great similarity 

 in developing. On slides they present no marked difference, to me, in appear- 



