CHAPTER V 

 CONJUNCTIVITIS 



General. 



THE collection and preparation of bacteriological material is fully 

 discussed in Chapter I. 



Although the researches into the etiology of conjunctival inflamma- 

 tions have been, 1 and still are, numerous and full of interest, and as 

 a result their scientific value is widely known, there are good grounds 

 for the supposition that too little importance is generally attached to 

 the practical results thus obtained. 



I am firmly of opinion that the objections and doubts, which are 

 now shared by so many, would more rapidly disappear were surgeons 

 to obtain for themselves the necessary experience in this branch of 

 ophthalmology, and to form their own opinion as to its utility by 

 a free practical trial. 



Those who, during their time as assistants, have had the opportunity 

 of frequently examining secretions, without exception firmly believe in 

 the value of such an examination, and would never be without it in 

 their practice. 



The examination of long series of cases is necessary before we can 

 give a sound opinion on the bacteriological etiology of the conjunctival 

 inflammations. We are not in a position to define all forms of con- 

 junctivitis on an etiological basis, and a small number of cases is 

 therefore less useful. Those who content themselves by only examining 

 a few cases may perhaps be deceived and form wrong conclusions. 



It is difficult, if not impossible, to come to a conclusion on this 



1 That epidemics of conjunctivitis occur among animals is shown by Guissart (conjunc- 

 tivitis of goats, ' Progres Veterinaire,' 1898, p. 369), Penberthi (in cattle, Jour, of Comp. 

 Anat. and Ther., 1897, x. 363), Hoppe (Ophth. Klinik, 1899, iii. 14), Liebrecht (Zool. 

 Garten, 1902, p. 66), Hoppe, Bartels (in ducks, K. M. f. A., 1904, xlii. 239, with 

 literature) ; also by diphtheria in birds, concerning which full bacteriological researches 

 have been made, cf. Streit (Zeit. f. Hyg. u. Inf., 1904, xlvi. 407), and also the review by 

 Schleich in Michel and Nagel's ' Jahresber. ' 



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