264 BACTERIOLOGY 



CHAPTER XIII 



THE ORGANS AND CAVITIES OF THE BODY AND THEIR 



CONTENTS (continued) 



IV. BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RESPIRATORY 

 TRACT; AND (V.) OF THE BLOOD 



The Nasal Secretion 



Micro-organisms in the nasal secretion. The micro- 

 organisms occurring in the vicinity of men and animals 

 may very easily penetrate into the respiratory passages 

 along with the current of air. They first reach the cavi- 

 ties of the nose, and find in the alkaline viscid mucus 

 there a medium possessing the conditions most suitable for 

 their development. The secretion of the nose contains 

 epithelial cells, both pavement and ciliated, leucocytes, and 

 even in the normal state a considerable number of micro- 

 organisms cocci, bacilli, and spirilla. Under pathological 

 conditions the nasal mucus becomes thin, and more pus- 

 corpuscles are found, as well as the characteristic micro- 

 organisms in definite local morbid conditions, the kinds of 

 microbe depending upon the variety of disease. 



Micrococcus cumulatus tennis. Von Besser isolated from 

 the normal nasal mucus rather large non -motile cocci, the 

 growth of which does not liquefy gelatine. Upon agar a 

 development of raised colonies appears, showing a thin 

 zone with ragged edges around a central nucleus. Pota- 

 toes are not favourable for its growth. 



Mirococcns tetragenns subflavns shows non -motile cocci 



