286 Wound Infection; Suppuration 



upon the local and general immunity of the individual, 

 rather than upon the absence of organisms from the wounds. 

 The relative frequency with which certain varieties of 

 bacteria are associated with suppuration is well shown in 

 the following table from Karlinski:* 



Suppuration in man Streptococci, 45 cases. 



Staphylococci, 144 



Other bacteria, 15 



Suppuration in the lower animals Streptococci, 23 



Staphylococci, 45 



Other bacteria, 15 



Suppuration in birds Streptococci, 1 1 



Staphylococci, 40 



Other bacteria, 20 



Andrewes and Gordon, f after the examination of large 

 numbers of Staphylococci from lesions of the human skin 

 and mucous membranes, come to the conclusion that four 

 varieties are differentiate. Of these, the Staphylococcus 

 pyogenes is the most common and most important. When 

 typical, this produces an orange-colored pigment. When 

 atypical, it may be lemon yellow or white. Staphylococcus 

 epidermidis albus is a distinct species. The differences 

 between these cocci are shown in the table on page 287. 



STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS ALBUS (WELCH). 



General Characteristics. A non-motile, non-flagellate, non- 

 sporogenous, slowly liquefying, non-chromogenic, aerobic and optionally 

 anaerobic, doubtfully pathogenic coccus, staining by the usual methods 

 and by Gram's method, and having its natural habitat upon the skin. 



Under the name Staphylococcus epidermidis albus, Welch J 

 has described a micrococcus which seems to be habitually 

 present upon the skin, not only upon the surface, but also 

 deep down in the Malpighian layer. He believes it to be 

 Staphylococcus pyogenes albus in an attenuated condition, 

 and if this opinion be correct, and there is seated deeply 

 in the derm a coccus which may at times cause suppuration, 

 the conclusions of Robb and Ghriskey, that sutures of cat- 

 gut when tightly drawn may be a cause of skin-abscesses by 

 predisposing to the development of this organism, are cer- 

 tainly justifiable. As the morphologic and cultural har- 



* " Central bl. f. Bakt.," etc., vn, S. 113, 1890. 



f " Report of the Local Government Board of Great Britain," Sup- 

 plement; "Report of the Medical Officers," 1905-1906, vol. xxxv, p. 543. 

 J " Amer. Jour. Med. Sci.," 1891, p. 439. 



