288 Wound Infection; Suppuration 



acteristics of the organism correspond fairly well to those of 

 the following species, no separate description of them seems 

 necessary. 



STAPHYLOCOCCUS PYOGENES ALBUS (ROSENBACH*). 



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

 sporogenous, liquefying, non-chromogenic, aerobic and optionally 

 anaerobic, mildly pathogenic coccus, staining by the ordinary methods 

 and by Gram's method. 



Although, as stated, Staphylococcus pyogenes albus is 

 a common cause of suppuration, it rarely occurs alone, 

 Passet so finding it in but 4 out of 33 cases investigated. 

 When pure cultures of the coccus are subcutaneously in- 

 jected into rabbits and guinea-pigs, abscesses occasionally 

 result. Injected into the circulation, the staphylococci oc- 

 casionally cause septicemia, and after death can be found in 

 the capillaries, especially in the kidneys. From this it will 

 be seen that the organism is feebly and variably pathogenic. 



In its morphologic and vegetative characteristics Sta- 

 phylococcus albus is almost identical with the species next 

 to be described, differing from it only in the absence of its 

 characteristic golden pigment. 



STAPHYLOCOCCUS PYOGENES AUREUS (ROSENBACH f). 



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

 sporogenous, liquefying, chromogenic, pathogenic, aerobic and option- 

 ally anaerobic coccus, staining by the ordinary methods and by Gram's 

 method. 



Commonly present upon the skin, though in smaller 

 numbers than the organisms already described, is the more 

 virulent and sometimes dangerous Staphylococcus pyogenes 

 aureus (Fig. 89), or "golden Staphylococcus," first observed 

 by Ogston and cultivated by Rosenbach. As the mor- 

 phology and cultural characteristics of this organism are 

 identical with those of the preceding species, it seems con- 

 venient to describe them together, pointing out such 

 minor differences as occur. In doing this, however, it must 

 not be forgotten that, although Staphylococcus albus was 

 first mentioned, Staphylococcus aureus is the more common 

 organism of suppuration. 



* " Wundinfektionskrankheiten des Menschen," Wiesbaden, 1884. 

 t " Mikroorganismen bei Wundinfektionskrankheiten des Men- 

 schen," Wiesbaden, 1884. 



