90 



BACTERIOLOGY OF THE EYE 



are only killed when kept at 100 C. for one to three hours. Many stems obtained 

 from the earth produce toxic symptoms when injected subcutaneously or into the 

 peritoneum of animals (Stregulina). This has also been demonstrated with the 

 panophthalmitis bacillus (Silberschmidt, Kayser). No particular toxin has been 

 obtained from the bacilli, and an identification of the various stems by means of the 

 agglutination test has not succeeded. 



The organisms described under the names Bacillus mesentericns (potato bacillus) 

 and Bacillus megaterium are very closely related to the Subtilis group, from 

 which it is difficult, if not impossible, sometimes to differentiate them. This results 

 from the great variability of Subtilis, which can assume those characteristics which 

 many investigators have stated to be peculiar to these two bacteria. These bacteria 

 certainly do belong to the Subtilis group. 1 Gourfein found a Bacillus mesentericus 

 in an eye infected after cataract operation. 



The Bacillus mycoides (root bacillus), which occurs plentifully in soil, and is the 

 most closely related saprophyte to Subtilis, can also cause severe inflammatory 



reaction in the eye (see the article by 

 Czermak, Prager vied. Wocli., 1905, 

 Bd. xxx., No. 8). In his case the 

 globe was perforated by a dirty piece 

 of iron ; a ring abscess of the cornea 

 resulted, ending in panophthalmitis. 

 The Bacillus mycoides exclusively was 

 found in the pus. Nothing is said 

 about pathogenicity for animals. On 

 agar the colonies were soft greyish- 

 white, and formed freely branched root- 

 like processes, which finally covered 

 the whole surface. 



The culture on potatoes is at first 

 similar to that of Subtilis : at first it 

 is white, then dull yellow, with slender 

 processes. 



The pathogenic action on the eye 

 varies greatly in the different stems of 

 Subtilis. While Perles and Lobanow 

 only obtained a transient reaction in 

 the cornea, anterior chamber, and vitreous of rabbits, Banziger and Silberschmidt, 

 on the other hand, obtained a panophthalmitis by injection into the vitreous, thus 

 confirming the findings in cases of wounds with wood-splinters. (The difference in 

 these results is partly due to the different technique, as Perles did not inject, but 

 inoculated with the loop.) We have, however, obtained quite different results 

 when using the identical method with different stems. 



In the interior of the eye the B. subtilis rapidly dies out. Kisskalt proved that 

 the bacilli at first increased in numbers ; even in cases where they did not produce 

 any severe inflammation an increase can be shown to occur within the first thirty- 

 six hours, but after forty-eight hours degeneration sets in. According to Silber- 



1 Chaillous (Soc. d'Ophlh. dc Paris, November 6, 1906), in a case of severe traumatic 

 iridocyclitis, found a Gram -positive Bacille sporule, not quite identical with B. subtilis in 

 so far as it was non-motile, more slender, and formed finer and more transparent cultures 

 on agar, no surface film on bouillon, did not liquefy gelatine, and did not grow on potato. 

 The spores were not killed by being heated to 100 C. for ten minutes, and a temperature of 

 90 C. could be withstood for one hour. The bacilli sometimes produced a purulent inflamma- 

 tion in the vitreous, and the spores, after heating, could still develop. Cultures could not 

 be obtained from the animal's eye again. 



FIG. 10. AGAR PLATE COLONY OF B. SUB- 

 TILIS FEOM PANOPHTHALMITIS. 



