CONJUNCTIVITIS 135 



more deeply at the ends and in the form of transverse 

 bands, and quite long wavy spiral organisms, usually 

 having shallow, irregular curvatures. The bacilli are 

 4 oVo to 2"oVo inch long and 47 Jo o" to -sifiro o" inch wide. 

 They probably grow best under anaerobic conditions. 

 There is no specific treatment. 



CONJUNCTIVITIS 



There are many bacteria capable of producing inflam- 

 mations of the conjunctival sac, but there are a few 

 that seem peculiar in being found only in this place. 

 Whether they are separate species or not remains to 

 be seen. The most important mild inflammation of 

 the conjunctiva is the "pink eye." This acute con- 

 dition is transmitted by direct or indirect passage of 

 moist infective material from one patient to another. 

 Therefore an affected eye should be kept covered and 

 dressings handled carefully. The organisms are killed 

 by very weak solutions of the ordinary disinfectants, 

 and, indeed, probably do not resist boric acid very long. 

 The causative germ is the Koch-Weeks bacillus of 

 conjunctivitis. It is similar in size, shape, and staining 

 properties to the influenza bacillus, but differs from it 

 in that it will grow in the absence of hemoglobin, and 

 with reasonable ease on ordinary culture media. It 

 is destroyed at 60 C. or 142 F.' in two minutes. It 

 does not affect animals. There is no specific therapy. 



Another form of conjunctivitis chiefly affecting the 

 angles of both eyes and running a subacute course is 

 caused by the bacillus of Morax and Axenfeld. These 

 organisms as seen in smears made best from exudate 



