INFLUENZA. 565 



cal with the influenza bacillus. The influenza-like 

 bacillus which Jochmann and Krause consider as 

 the cause of whooping-cough, may be mentioned 

 in this connection. 



The resistance of the bacillus to desiccation, * d lstance 

 sunlight and unfavorable temperatures is very low. virulence. 

 It dies in from twenty-four to thirty-six hours at 

 room temperature, when contained in sputum, and 

 lives for about thirty-two hours in hydrant water 

 (Pfeiffer). It is not highly virulent for animals, 

 although a condition said to resemble influ- 

 enza has been produced in monkeys by placing 

 pure cultures on the nasal mucous membrane. 

 Fatal infections may be produced by intra- 

 venous inoculation of the bacillus into monkeys 

 and rabbits, and killed cultures produce a fatal 

 intoxication in rabbits. Virulent cultures in suffi- 

 cient quantity produce fatal peritonitis in guinea- 

 pigs. Since the bacilli seem not to proliferate 

 when fatal quantities are injected intravenously 

 into rabbits, and since fatal intoxication, without 

 the occurrence of bacteriemia, may take place 

 when a tracheal infection is induced in the ape 

 (Pfeiffer), it is concluded that the toxic phenom- 

 ena of influenza are due to the absorption of bac- 

 terial toxins from the mucous surfaces. A soluble 

 toxin has not been obtained in culture media. The 

 organism is a facultative pus producer. 



So far as is known, the influenza bacillus is ex- pitribotion 



7 in tne Body. 



creted only with the secretions of infected surfaces, 

 i. e., from the upper respiratory passages, con- 

 junctiva, ear, etc. The belief, commonly held, 

 that the influenza bacillus does not enter the cir- 

 culation probably is erroneous. That metastatic 

 infection is possible, by way of the lymph or blood 



