542 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. 



Staphylococci have fairly high resistance to anti- 

 septics; when dried, corrosive sublimate (1/1000) 

 kills them in two to three hours, and when im- 

 bedded in pus from thirteen to sixteen hours are 

 required (Ottavino). Methyl alcohol, tincture of 

 green soap and methyl violet are relatively good 

 disinfectants. Methyl violet in a dilution of 

 1/10,000 kills them in from five to fifteen minutes 

 (Stilling). Formalin readily hinders develop* 

 ment, but its bactericidal power is low. It is 

 difficult or impossible to sterilize wounds infected 

 with the staphylococcus by means of antiseptics. 



Staphylococci are very widely distributed in na- 

 ture and are to be found constantly in the super- 

 ficial layers of the epidermis (8. epidermidis al- 

 bus) . 



In infections the staphylococcus attracts large 

 and *fe^<*- numbers of leucocytes, and the pus does not coagu- 

 tances. j a e rpj^ substance which attracts leucocytes is 

 heat-resistant, since killed cultures will cause 

 abscesses. In all but the most superficial lesions 

 a characteristic result of infection is that of cell 

 necrosis and the liquefaction of tissues. Neisser 

 and Lipstein state that the necrotizing substance 

 is a soluble toxin, since culture filtrates cause 

 marked necrosis of the internal organs when in- 

 jected (liver, heart, kidney). "Hence in staphylo- 

 mycosis we can distinguish two active substances 

 (v. Lingelsheim) , the leucotactic substance in the 

 bodies of the cocci and the more important soluble 

 staphylotoxin which exercises not only a local but 

 also a general toxic action on the body" (Neisser 

 and Lipstein). 



Amyloid Davidson produced amyloid degeneration in 

 >e8 ation". rabbits and mice by the injection of living cultures. 



