Bacilli Resembling the Diphtheria Bacillus 443 



a special " antitoxin syringe." The syringe should always 

 be carefully sterilized by boiling, and the packings, etc., 

 found to be in good condition before it is filled with anti- 

 toxin. 



BACILLI RESEMBLING THE DIPHTHERIA BACILLUS. 



The pseudo-diphtheria bacillus (bacillus of Hoffmann*) 

 Bacillus pseudo-diphthericus was first found by LofHerf in 

 diphtheria pseudo-membranes and in the healthy mouth 

 and pharynx. It is also found upon the conjunctiva, 

 especially in xerosis conjunctivas, and corresponds to the 

 so-called Bacillus xerosis conjunctivas, described by Kutsch- 

 bert and NeisserJ as the cause of xerosis, but now recog- 

 nized as a constant inhabitant of the conjunctiva in health 



Fig. 128. Pseudo-diphtheria bacilli (Muir and P.itchie). 



and disease. By some authors this bacillus is thought to 

 cause chronic ulcerative keratitis and chalazion. The 

 pseudo-diphtheria bacillus is also found in the nose and 

 upon the skin, where it usually associates itself with Staphy- 

 lococcus aureus. It has been found in impetigo, acne, and 

 variola pustules, and it has also at times been isolated from 



*" Wiener klin. Woch.," 1888, No. 3. 

 f'Centralbl. f. Bakt. u. Parasitenk.," n, 105. 

 J" Deutsche med. Woch.," 1884, No. 24. 



