PSEUDOMONAS MRUGINOSA 383 



cases of true epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in man in 

 which the serum was used shows that the general death 

 rate was considerably lower than that following any other 

 known mode of treatment. For cases treated between the 

 first and third days of the disease it was as low as 16.5 per 

 cent., while for those treated as late as, and later than the 

 seventh day, it was 35 per cent. Between these figures 

 the rates ran from 20 to 25 per cent. For success, therefore, 

 early diagnosis and early administrations of the serum are 

 essential. 



There is no agreement of opinion as to how antimeningitis 

 serum produces its favorable results. Several suggestions 

 have been offered: It may stimulate phagocytosis and 

 thus lead to the death and removal of the meningococci; it 

 may enter into destructive union with the specific endo- 

 toxin of the meningococci; or it may act directly germicidal 

 upon the organs themselves. 



PSEUDOMONAS -ffiRUGINOSA (SCHROTER, 1872), 

 MIGULA, 1900. 



SYNONYMS: Bacterium ^Eruginosum, Schroter, 1872; Bacillus 

 ginosus, Schroter, 1872; Bacillus Pyocyaneus, Gessard, 1882; Pseudo- 

 monas Pyocyanea, Migula, 1896. 



Another common organism that may properly be men- 

 tioned at this place, though perhaps not strictly pyogenic, 

 is a pseudomonas frequently found in discharges from 

 wounds, viz., pseudomonas seruginosa, or bacillus pyocyaneus 

 or "bacillus of green pus," or of blue pus, or of blue-green 

 pus, as it is by custom variously designated. Pseudomonas 

 seruginosa is a delicate rod with rounded or pointed ends. 

 It is actively motile; does not form spores. As seen in 



