468 DISEASES WITH UNCERTAIN CAUSES. 



found in the conjunctival phlyctenule and recent corneal 

 infiltrations. See Axenfeld (C. B. xxiv, 194). 



Beri-beri. 



Regarding this important tropical disease, the literature 

 contains the most heterogeneous statements. The cause of 

 the disease is recognized by Musso and Morelli (Compt. 

 rend, de la Soc. de Biolog., 1893, 18) in an organism 

 which is very closely related to the Micr. pyogenes a 

 aureus; by Hunter, in agreement with Pekelharing and 

 Winkler, in a white, motile staphylococcus (C. B. xxiv, 

 537). 



Besides, there are those who conceive of beri-beri as 

 a chronic intoxication (from sea animals), and place it 

 in the same class with pellagra, etc. See Grimm (C. B. 

 xxiv, 538). 



Articular Rheumatism. 



While some authors believe articular rheumatism is due 

 to the Micrococcus pyogenes (see p. 184), Bannatyne, 

 Wohlmann, and Blaxall (C. B. xx, 400) believe they 

 have found its cause in a short, fine bacillus (2 ft long, 0.6 

 ft, thick) which usually stains at the ends (eighteen posi- 

 tive cases!). In bouillon it slowly grows as small, fine 

 puncta and crumbly particles. From the bouillon scanty 

 growths upon agar and L6 filer's serum may be obtained. 

 According to the English writers, the organism is con- 

 stantly found in the joint fluid; more rarely, and only in 

 severe cases, in the blood. Leyden has found in five 

 cases of endocarditis (C. B. xix, 722) a fine diplococcus 

 which can hardly be cultivated at all, and which may 

 possibly be the cause of the disease. 



Hospital Gangrene. 



Vincent (A. P., 1896, 488) observed in Arabs, who were 

 infected in Madagascar, in the typical cutaneous ulcers, 

 very abundant, straight, rarely slightly bent, non-sporu- 

 lating bacteria which do not stain by Gram's method. In 

 sections it is easily demonstrated in the characteristic loca- 



