112 APPLIED BACTERIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



appears to be an almost constant inhabitant of the 

 skin, and to be the common cause of ^'stitch abscess." 

 In contrast to most other pathogenic bacteria, the 

 staphylococcus appears to be able to infect through 

 the unbroken skin. The organism has also been found 

 in various pustular affections of the skin and mucous 

 membranes, in acute abscess in the lymph-glands, in 

 empyema, endocarditis, septicemia, and pyemia. Boils 

 and carbuncles are very frequently due to this organism. 





Fig. 35. — Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus (Giinther) . 



So far as a source of infection of others is concerned, 

 we really need not worry much about the occurrence of 

 the staphylococcus in the dust in air. Lister, it will be 

 remembered, kept a spray of carbolic acid solution 

 playing about the operating-room during surgical 

 operations in order to kill the germs which might be 

 present in the air. Experience, however, soon showed 

 that this was unnecessary. The presence of the staphy- 

 lococcus on the skin is of more importance, but this, too, 



