4 i8 



DUODENAL FLUID 



In duodenitis we have stringy mucus and rather considerable numbers of livii 

 bacteria. 



Typhoid carriers are best recognized by culturing the duodenal contents. Mac- 

 Neal, in culturing the organisms from the duodenal contents of 26 cases, found that 

 few living bacteria were present although dead ones might be present in considerable 

 numbers. The living organisms are as a rule Gram-positive cocci. 



B. lactis aero genes was found rather constantly by Gessner. 



In connection with the possible significance of bacteria in the duo- 

 denal contents it is interesting to note the findings of Kelly in a bac- 

 teriological study of 413 cases of operations on the biliary tract by 

 Deaver. About one-half the cases showed sterile bile but in the acute 

 cases living bacteria were almost constantly present. B. coli was 

 found in 30%, B. typhosus in 7%, Staphylo coccus pyogenes in 2.9%, 

 Streptococcus in 0.2%. Other organisms were more rarely found and 

 55% were sterile. 



In recently studying the bacteria of the duodenal contents and subsequently t 

 bile of a case of cholelithiasis with cholecystitis the only organism found was B. coli. 

 This organism was markedly haemolytic on blood agar plates. 



For the carrying out of the various tests see appendix. 



