BACTERIAL INOCULATION 299 



ditions, are not only valueless, but harmful, and should 

 the patient recover, he does so not because of, but in 

 spite of, bacterin therapy. 



Endocarditis, — The streptococcus of the mitior or 

 viridans, foecalis or salivarius and pyogenes longus 

 types, the pneumococcus, staphylococcus, gonococcus 

 and B. influenzce are held to be the responsible in- 

 fective bacteria. The results of bacterial inoculations 

 have been far from promising, although a few suc- 

 cesses have been reported in the chronic and even in 

 the subacute forms of the disease. Treatment in this 

 disease, if conducted at all, must be with the utmost 

 caution. In the acute form, it is certainly condemn- 

 able. 



Rheumatic Fever and Articular Rheumatism, — 

 The Streptococcus rheumaticus is accepted, in many 

 quarters, to be the causative organism. The results 

 of Buchanan in the acute stage of these affections and 

 those of Veitch in the chronic form, where entirely 

 satisfactory results were obtained in 50 per cent, of 

 cases treated, are worthy of consideration, but as yet 

 have not been duplicated by confirmatory in- 

 vestigation. 



Malta Fever. — The M, melitensis is the offending 

 bacterium. Although the authors have had no ex- 

 perience, it is claimed on good authority that small 

 doses in the acute stage and larger dosage in the 



