BACILLUS PYOCYANEUS 179 



to carbolic acid or formaldehyde solutions for half an 

 hour. 



The poisons of the pyocyaneus bacillus are twofold- 

 one an endotoxin, the other a soluble separable toxin. 

 These substances, more especially the latter, have the 

 power of destroying some other bacteria. The broth 

 culture, freed of bacteria and reduced to one-tenth 

 its volume, is used sometimes to rid the throat of 

 persistent diphtheria bacilli. This is called "pyocy- 

 anase." The toxins are more poisonous to animals 

 than are the living cultures. Most small laboratory 

 animals are susceptible to injections of the living 

 pyocyaneus bacillus. The bacilli may multiply within 

 the body and enter the blood stream. It is maintained 

 that some part of the toxin has the power to destroy 

 red blood cells. 



The pyocyaneus bacillus may, by its presence on 

 wounds, delay their healing. It is commonest perhaps 

 in boils in the axilla and groin. It has been found 

 in otitis media and in gastro-enteritis of debilitated 

 children. There may be a general sepsis under which 

 circumstances pleurisy, pericarditis, and the like may 

 be looked for. A diagnosis is made solely by finding 

 the pigment-producing bacillus in pus or other exudate, 

 or possibly by blood culture. Active immunity may 

 be produced in the lower animals by exceedingly 

 careful technique, but it has not been found profitable 

 to use the antiserum upon human beings. We know 

 little as yet of vaccine treatment in such infections. 



