THE BACILLUS COLT 463 



B. coli sometimes induces puerperal fever and other forms 

 of septicaemia, and it is a common cause of cystitis and 

 other infections of the urinary tract. Coliform organisms 

 are also frequent in dirty septic injuries and gunshot 

 wounds, particularly in the early stages. 



In the Pictou cattle disease, characterised by extensive 

 hepatic cirrhosis, Adami found a minute diplococcus or 

 short bacillus. A similar form was afterwards isolated 

 by him in hepatic cirrhosis in man. Miss Abbott, 1 from 

 a study of several such cases, came to the conclusion 

 that this organism is a variety of the B. coli. It has been 

 suggested that hepatic cirrhosis is produced by poisons 

 or toxins, e.g. of the B. coli, and that alcoholism, the usual 

 cause assigned, is but an exciting or secondary agent. 



Anti-serum and vaccine. Attempts have been made to 

 prepare an anti-serum for the treatment of B. coli infec- 

 tions, but its use has been attended with little or no 

 success. 



A vaccine consisting of a killed culture is frequently of 

 service in the treatment of chronic B. coli infections, 

 e.g. cholangitis, cholecystitis, pyelitis, and cystitis, but it 

 sometimes fails to act ; it should always be an autogenous 

 one. The B. coli vaccine is more toxic than most vaccines, 

 and treatment, should, therefore, be commenced with 

 small doses (see p. 265). 



Winslow, Kligler and Rothberg consider that four distinct 

 species, with three varieties based on motility, should be included 

 in their Group V of the Typhoid-Colon bacteria : 



(1) B. neapolitanus. Non-motile. Ferments sucrose, but not 

 as a rule dulcitol and adonitol, and never inosite. 



(2) B. communior. Sluggish motility. Ferments sucrose and 

 dulcitol, but not adonitol. Var. coscoroba, non -motile. 



(3) B. coli. Sluggish motility. Ferments dulcitol, but not 

 sucrose or adonitol. Var. immobilis, non-motile. 



1 Journ. Path, and Bact., vol. vi, 1900, No. 3, p. 315 (Bibliog.). 



