50 LOCALIZATION OF MICRO-ORGANISMS. 



tion he speaks of, where a more direct relation exists between the 

 different microbes, in the sense that the one precedes the other and 

 prepares the soil for the growth of the latter. These forms are 

 characterized by being constantly associated with certain definite 

 microbes. The pneumococcus may prepare the soil for fructifica- 

 tion of the bacillus of tuberculosis or the microbes of suppuration 

 in individuals that otherwise would have been immune to the 

 action of these germs. The gonococcus can also modify the 

 mucous membrane of the genito-urinary tract, chiefly in women, in 

 such manner as to render easy the invasion of other pathogenic 

 microbes. Gonorrhoeal infection of the vulvo-vaginal glands fur- 

 nishes a good illustration : as long as the infection remains purely 

 gonorrhoeal the acute purulent stage is succeeded by a chronic 

 stage which may last for some months, the swelling gradually sub- 

 sides and subsequently atrophy and sclerosis of the gland follow. 

 If, however, a purulent infection is added to the gouorrhoeal the 

 gland soon becomes enlarged and tender, and suppuration follows. 

 In the abscess and its vicinity no gonococci can be found ; the pus 

 only contains the pyogenic staphylococcus which has exterminated 

 the gonococcus. Cystitis which accompanies gonorrhoea is, again, 

 a variety of mixed infection. The stratified epithelium of the 

 bladder is impenetrable to the gonococcus. According to Bumm, 

 the cystitis is due to another species of microbe resembling the 

 gonococcus, but differing from it by taking a different staining. 

 The gonococcus expends its action in the superficial layers of the 

 mucous membrane exclusively. Suppurative parametritis following 

 gonorrhoea is analogous to a gonorrhoeic bubo, which is always 

 caused by a secondary infection with pus-microbes. 



A valuable contribution to our knowledge of mixed infection has 

 recently been made by Babes (Bacteriologische Untersuehungen 

 uber septische Processe des Kindesalters, Leipzig, 1889), of Bucha- 

 rest. His investigations consist of a series of bacteriological studies 

 of the dead bodies of children. Within a few hours after death 

 tissue was taken from different organs, with which sterilized culture 

 material was inoculated, the strictest antiseptic precautions being 

 exercised throughout. In acute infectious diseases, such as diph- 

 theria and scarlatina, he found the spleen, kidneys, liver, lungs, 

 and blood infected with numerous colonies of streptococci, putre- 

 factive bacteria, capsule cocci, more rarely staphylococci and 

 various bacilli. Of special interest are his researches on the 

 manner of localization and extension of the secondary infection 

 after different primary diseases. In eight cadavers he found one 

 or more species of bacteria in the internal organs. In a case of 

 septic omphalitis he found the bacillus of green pus. In six cases 

 of different kinds the pus streptococcus grew upon the culture 



