{STAPHYLOCOCCUS PYOGENES AUREUS 391 



As above stated, the susceptibility of man to spontaneous staphy- 

 lococcus infection is decidedly more marked than is that of animals. 

 The form of infection most frequently observed is the common 

 boil or furuncle. As Garre, 18 Biidinger, 19 Schimmelbusch,- and others 

 have demonstrated by experiments upon their own bodies, energetic 

 rubbing of the skin with virulent staphylococcus cultures may often 

 be followed by the development of a furuncle. Subcutaneous inocu- 

 lation of the human subject invariably gives rise to an abscess. 

 The organisms are apparently present on the skin of human beings 

 with great frequency, and it is not unlikely that in the course of 

 daily life, they may be rubbed into hair follicles and sweat glands, 

 and be present constantly on some part of the body, prepared for 

 immediate invasion of an abrasion or other accident furnishes the 

 opportunity. A simple and frequent disease, furunculosis, is, never- 

 theless, a condition about the pathogenesis of which we are con- 

 siderably in the dark. Reductions of general resistance, especially 

 those accompanying overwork, indoor occupations, and faulty diet, 

 seem to be concerned in furnishing the proper conditions for invasion 

 by the ever present staphylococci. General metabolic diseases, such 

 as nephritis and especially diabetes, render the individual abnormally 

 susceptible. In certain instances it has been suggested, especially 

 by Wright, that reduction in coagulation time of the blood might 

 influence this state of affairs. 



Staphylococcus lesions of the skin are characteristic in that, 

 after an induration, there occurs a central softening with the forma- 

 tion of liquid pus. It is an important observation, confirmed by 

 much experience, that if incision is practiced in the indurated and 

 inflamed tissue before the process has come to a central head, 

 infection is usually spread, perhaps by the opening of adjacent 

 lymphatics. Therefore, there is much judgment required in treating 

 even these simple lesions. Faulty surgical interference may easily 

 convert a simple furuncle into a dangerous carbuncle. 



Common among staphylococcus skin infections is paronychia, or 

 infection of the nail bed on the fingers. This may often lead to 

 troublesome extension up the fingers and into the hands. 



18 Garre, Beit, z. klin. Chir., x, 1893. 



w Biidinger, Lubarsch und Ostertag, Ergebnisse, etc,, 1896, 



20 Schimmelbusch, Ref . by Biidinger. 



