120 THE ACUTE SELF-LIMITED INFECTIONS 



With these facts in mind it is not difficult to under- 

 stand how sporadic cases occur and how the disease 

 spreads rapidly from one patient to another. The 

 bacilli get to work on the mucous membranes rapidly, 

 and the incubation period is short, three days at the 

 longest. Epidemics have been known to spread over 

 whole continents in a season. Many observers believe 

 that other organisms, notably streptococci, help in 

 the production of these acute influenzal colds. It is 

 undoubtedly true that the influenza bacillus is seldom 

 found in pure culture, that is, in absence of some other 

 organism with pathogenic properties. The bacilli are 

 found in the excretions and secretions from the nose, 

 mouth, and lungs. All excretions should be received 

 into carbolic acid solution, and the mouth and nose fre- 

 quently douched with a mild antiseptic. The nurse and 

 members of the family should use care with the nose and 

 mouth in frequent rinsing with weak antiseptics, such as 

 hydrogen peroxide. For diagnosticating this disease 

 smears and cultures are made from some of the glaring 

 mucus at the back of the throat or a good specimen of 

 sputum coughed from the lungs. The smears on slides 

 are stained with appropriate dyes. Under the micro- 

 scope the delicate rods are found in pairs on end, lying 

 in groups or within the pus and epithelial cells. In 

 cultivating these organisms media containing whole 

 blood or blood coloring matter, hemoglobin, must be 

 used. They will not grow in the absence of the latter. 

 Their colonies upon solid media containing it are 

 rather characteristic. During an attack the bacteria 

 produce some agglutinins in the blood and the agglu- 

 tination or clumping test may be used with them. 

 This is not highly practical and seldom used. 



