/J/.1/O77T TO STREPTOCOCCUS. 52'.' 



certain strains have this effect (Zagari, cited by 

 v. Lingelsheim). It is noted occasionally that lupus 

 improves or actually heals following an attack 

 of erysipelas. A reputed effect of a similar nature 

 in tuberculosis of the lungs was mentioned above. 



The clinical observation that an attack of 

 erysipelas often causes a decrease in the size of 

 malignant tumors, especially sarcomas, received 

 some confirmation from the experimental work of 

 Fehleisen. With the hope of reproducing erysipe- 

 las with pure cultures, Fehleisen had inoculated 

 streptococci into those suffering from such tumors. 

 Among six patients so inoculated, a decrease in the 

 size of the tumor was noted in five. Killed cul- 

 tures were tried without effect. Coley^s mixture 

 of killed cultures of the streptococcus and Bacillus 

 prodigiosus received rather extensive trial as a 

 substitute for living cultures of the streptococcus, 

 and in many instances improvement and even 

 cures have been reported. Others have had no 

 favorable results. Senn used the preparation in 

 twelve cases of inoperable sarcoma "with negative 

 results." The Bacillus prodigiosus is supposed in 

 some way to increase the efficacy of the strepto- 

 coccus toxin ; it contains a toxic protein. These 

 toxins seem to have no influence on carcinomas. 



Concerning the natural susceptibility and im- immunity 

 munity of man to infections with the streptococcus 

 little is known. It seems probable that the un- 

 impaired mucous surface resists invasion by the 

 organisms which occur constantly in the mouth 

 cavity; the physical protection of the intact sur- 

 face, the rapid desquamation of epithelium, the 

 rapid excretion with the saliva, the inhibiting in- 

 fluence of the saliva on the proliferation of bac- 



