CHAPTER XVIII. 



Sputum septicaemia Septicaemia resulting from the presence of sar- 

 cina tetragena, or from bacterium pneumonise in the sputum of 

 apparently healthy persons The occurrence of bacterium influ- 

 enzae in the sputum. 



IT is not infrequent that apparently healthy persons 

 harbor in the mouth cavity, nose, or throat a variety of 

 pathogenic organisms without manifesting any symptoms 

 of their presence. Some of such organisms may be 

 readily detected by appropriate methods of cultivation. 

 This is especially true of the bacterium diphtherias, as 

 will be shown in a subsequent chapter. Some of the 

 others are not so readily isolated by the cultural method, 

 but may be demonstrated by appropriate methods of 

 staining or otherwise. On staining cover-glass prepara- 

 tions of sputum by the Gram method and counterstain- 

 ing with eosin it is often possible to detect bacterium 

 pneumonias and bacterium influenza by reason of their 

 peculiar morphology and staining reactions. 



The most satisfactory results, however, are obtained 

 by the subcutaneous or intravenous injection of the 

 sputum into guinea-pigs or rabbits. By this means the 

 non-pathogenic organisms are quickly eliminated and the 

 pathogenic, if present, produce their characteristic lesions. 

 Probably the most frequent result of such inoculation 

 of sputum is the production of a general septicaemia. 1 



Obtain from a tuberculous patient a sample of fresh 



1 Septicaemia is that form of infection in which the blood is the chief 

 field of activity of the organisms. 



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