BACTERIOLOGY OF THE EYE 



CHAPTEE I 

 REMARKS ON TECHNIQUE 



The Technique of Examining 1 Cases. 



IT is possible to acquire all the important facts in ophthalmic 

 bacteriology with the aid of but simple apparatus. The mere 

 examination of a film gives a great deal of information, and for 

 the preparation and examination of cultures all that is necessary 

 is the well-known bacteriological apparatus as arranged by Lauten- 

 schlager, Eohrbeck, and others. This is quite sufficient if no special 

 scientific research is to be made. 



We must assume a fair amount of general knowledge, but there 

 are several practical points which must also be emphasized. 



The Collection and Preparation of Material. 



It is absolutely necessary, in dealing ivith both external and internal 

 diseases, that material should be collected at a suitable stage of the 

 disease. 



1. THE CONJUNCTIVA. 



In many forms of conjunctivitis (e.g., pneumococcal) the charac- 

 teristic findings in the secretion can only be obtained during that 

 period in which the disease is developing, or is at its height. When that 

 point has passed, and the inflammation begins to subside, although 

 the discharge may still be profuse, the actual causal agent can dis- 

 appear rapidly, but the discharge lessens more slowly. In the stage 

 of regression we find the common conjunctival inhabitants, especially 

 Staphylococci and Xerosis bacilli, in much larger numbers. These 

 previously were often completely or, at least, to a considerable extent 

 choked out by some particular pathogenic organism. This is true 



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