544 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. 



eczema and they may be important as a secondary 

 agent in this condition. The ordinary eczema prob- 

 ably is not parasitic in its cause, however (Sabou- 

 raud), and Neisser and Lipstein dispute the claim 

 of Bender and others that eczema produced by 

 staphylococcus nitrates is due to products of the 

 microbe. This conclusion was justified, since the 

 same results were obtained with pure bouillon of 

 similar alkalinity, the property could not be de- 

 stroyed by heat, and antistaphylococcus serum was 

 not able to prevent the dermatitis. Furuncles may 

 be produced by rubbing virulent cultures into the 

 skin, and abscesses by the injection of minute 

 amounts. The staphylococcus causes purulent or 



Surface*. , ,.. ,1 



seropurulent conjunctivitis rather infrequently. 

 Primary infections of cavities which communicate 

 with the surface, as the antrum of Highmore, the 

 middle ear, nose, bronchi, lungs and tuberculous 

 cavities, are not uncommon, and mixed infections 

 with the staphylococcus in these localities is the 

 rule, regardless of the primary cause. Infection 

 of the mucous surfaces is less common than of the 

 skin, however. It rarely causes aphthous inflam- 

 mations, anginas, pneumonia, enteritis and cys- 

 titis when unmixed with other organisms. 



septicemia. Staphylococcus septicemia of great virulence oc- 

 casionally follows primary infection in other parts 

 of the body, as wound infections, tonsillitis, puer- 

 peral infection (rare) and the so-called malignant 

 carbuncles of the upper lip. In such instances a 

 Thrombophlebitis may be the means by which the 

 organisms are poured into the circulation in large 



serous sur- numbers. Inflammations of the serous surfaces, 



iC Bones. as the pleura, peritoneum and endocardium, are 



rarely primary, but follow systemic infection; the 



