46 BACTERIOLOGY 



summer, are the most important measures with which 

 to combat the disease, and likewise to prevent infection. 



Tuberculin was formerly extolled as a curative meas- 

 ure, but disastrous results in many cases caused its 

 abandonment. A new form of the preparation is again 

 being used with success in properly selected cases. Its 

 most important use, however, is as a diagnostic measure. 

 Injection of it into a subject having the disease gives 

 rise to elevation of temperature. This is called a pos- 

 itive reaction. 



Calmette's reaction consists hi placing a small amount 

 of tuberculin on the conjunctiva. In a few hours, if 

 tuberculosis be present, a more or less decided reaction 

 or congestion occurs. Tuberculosis has been called the 

 great white plague; i person in every 10 dies of it. 



Recent statistics of postmortem examinations made 

 abroad show that 90 per cent, of adult bodies contained 

 either active or healed foci of tuberculosis. The Ger- 

 mans have a saying to the effect that "Everybody has 

 a little tuberculosis." All of which goes to show how 

 widespread is the disease and how curable, as many 

 healed lesions of tuberculosis are found in people who 

 have lived and died unconscious of having had the 

 disease. 



Bacillus Diphtheria (Klebs-Loffler Bacillus). A non- 

 motile, non-spore-forming, dumbbell-shaped bacillus. 

 The germ is widely distributed. It is found in healthy 

 throats and in the throats of those who have had the 



