CHAPTER XVI. 



Sputum septicaemia Septicaemia resulting from the presence of sarcina 

 tetragena, or from bacterium pneumonia in the sputum of appar- 

 ently healthy persons The occurrence of bacterium influenza 

 in the sputum. 



IT is not infrequent that apparently healthy persons 

 harbor in the mouth cavity, nose, or throat a variety of 

 pathogenic organisms without manifesting any symptoms 

 of their presence. Some of these pathogenic organisms 

 may be readily detected by appropriate methods of cul- 

 tivation. This is especially true of the bacterium diph- 

 theriae, as will be shown in a subsequent chapter. Some 

 of the other pathogenic bacteria are not so readily isolated 

 by the cultural method, but may be demonstrated by ap- 

 propriate methods of staining. On staining cover-glass 

 preparations of sputum by the Gram method and counter- 

 staining with eosin it is often possible to detect bacterium 

 pneumonias and bacterium influenza? by reason of their 

 peculiar morphology and staining reactions. 



The most satisfactory results, however, are obtained 

 by the subcutaneous or intravenous injection of the 

 sputum into guinea-pigs or rabbits. By this means the 

 non-pathogenic organisms are quickly eliminated and 

 the pathogenic organisms, if present, produce their 

 characteristic lesions. Probably the most frequent re- 

 sult of such inoculation of sputum is the production of 

 a general septicaemia. 1 



Obtain from a tuberculous patient a sample of fresh 



1 Septicaemia is that form of infection in which the blood is the chief 

 field of activity of the organisms. 



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