42 BACTERIOLOGY 



infection and mixed infection of other suppurative con- 

 ditions. 



Diplococcus Intracellularis Meningitidis. The cause 

 of cerebrospinal meningitis. 



Source of Infection. Doubtless patients having the 

 disease, dust, and air. The avenue of infection is prob- 

 ably the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. It 

 is found in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the lesions are 

 purulent inflammation of the pia and arachnoid, mem- 

 branes of the brain, and spinal cord. High temperature, 

 convulsions, and death in 80 to 90 per cent, of the cases, 

 with permanent paralysis of various functions in those 

 who recover. Prevention of infection includes disin- 

 fection of various discharges, fumigation of rooms, and 

 cleanliness of nasopharynx. 



Serum Treatment. Flexner, working in the Rocke- 

 feller Institute, has recently perfected a serum which is 

 curative in a large proportion of cases. Its use has 

 already reduced the mortality of cases from 80 to 90 

 per cent, to about 25 per cent., and it is highly probable 

 that its early use and more perfect technic will give a 

 still greater reduction of mortality. 



Micrococcus Melitensis. A non-motile coccus, the 

 cause of Malta or Mediterranean fever, a disease occur- 

 ring on the Island of Malta, along the Mediterranean, 

 in Porto Rico, the Philippine Islands, and India. 



Source of Infection. In a large percentage of the 

 cases goats' milk has been found to be the source of in- 



