132 BACTERIOLOGY OF THE EYE 



by a mild iritis, so that at first we have the appearance of an acute conjunctivitis, 

 and during its subsidence the iritis becomes evident. Such a combination suggests 

 an endogenous irritant, although it is not a certain proof that such is present. 

 One is reminded here of the conjunctival irritation of gouty persons. It is not at 

 all clear why general infections other than gonorrhceal do not occasionally affect 

 the conjunctiva, especially those which involve the joints (cf. Wagenmann, A.f. O., 

 1897, xliii., 1, S. 83 ; Desmons, ' Conjonctivite Rhumatismale,' Tlihe de Lille, 1900). 



E. Cohn, in a paper under the direction of C. Frankel (Halle), furnishes an 

 interesting and important observation on the question of endogenous conjunctivitis 

 and hsematogenous affections of mucous membranes in general ' Examination of 

 a New Form of Hefa Pathogenic for Animals ' (He/a, Klein, Centralbl. f. Bakterio- 

 logie und Parasiten, xxxi., 1, Gbt., 1902, No. 15 ; also ibid., xxxvi., 1904, p. 369). 

 The direct application of Hefa cells either to the nasal or conjunctival mucous 

 membrane of rabbits produced no reaction, but after intravenous injection, in two 

 to three weeks a bilateral conjunctivitis and rhinitis regularly occurred, which not 

 infrequently became purulent. 



Hefa cells were then found in the conjunctival secretion. In a pig eight days 

 after intravenous injection an acute purulent conjunctivitis occurred without Hefa 

 cells in the secretion (E. Cohn could not account for the failure to demonstrate 

 them, though it quite corresponds with the state of matters which we have dis- 

 cussed in metastatic gonorrhceal conjunctivitis). In a dog conjunctivitis occurred 

 with Hefce in the secretion. The buccal membrane remained unaffected, but the 

 stomach was often affected. 



In guinea-pigs a conjunctivitis always resulted, but in them it occurred on 

 direct inoculation also. 



Stock obtained endogenous tuberculosis of the conjunctiva experimentally. 



An experimental endogenous conjunctivitis has recently been recorded as 

 frequently occurring in a general infection of rats and mice with Trypanosoma 

 (Stargardt 1 ). The Trypanosomcz did not pass out into the conjunctival secretion, 

 but occurred in large numbers in the tissues of the conjunctiva. 



Finally we must remember Valenti's results (vide supra}. He 

 reports that he obtained endogenous toxic conjunctivitis, a record 

 which was only in part confirmed by Tschirkowski ; the excretion of 

 poisons by the conjunctiva and the resulting catarrhal inflammation, 

 however, are well-known phenomena (iodine catarrh, 2 etc.). 



1 Berlin. Ophth. Ges. ; K. M. f. A., 1906, ii. ; and Eer. der Heidel. OpMh. Ges., 1906. 



2 According to Muck, the combination of the iodine with the sulphur on the conjunctiva 

 is the cause of the irritation (Munch. Med. Woch., 1900, pp. 1168, 1732). 



