PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 137 



the circulation. The blood and juices have a peculiar stringy 

 fibrinous consistence. 



Bacillus of Influenza. (Pfeiffer, 1892.) 



A small bacillus about one-half the size of the bacillus of 

 mouse septicaemia, and arranged in chain-form. It develops 



FIG. 73. 



.. 



Bacillus influenzae, from a gelatin culture; X 1000 (Itzerott and Niemann). 



upon blood-serum agar. It is aerobic. Without movement; 

 does not take the Gram stain. It is best stained with diluted 

 carbol-fuchsin, the contrast-stain being Loffler's methylene- 

 blue. Upon glycerine-agar, over which a drop of blood has been 

 spread, in an incubator at the end of twenty-four hours a very 

 delicate growth occurs, which resembles condensed moisture. 

 It is found in the sputum and in the bronchial nasal secretions 

 and blood of influenza patients, but cannot as yet be said to be 

 the cause of influenza. 



Micro-Organisms of Suppuration. The suppuration of wounds 

 is due to the presence of germs. The knowledge of this fact is 

 the basis of the antiseptic treatment in surgery ; for when the 

 microbes can be destroyed or their entrance prevented, the 

 wounds are made clean and kept without suppurating. Vari- 

 ous forms of bacteria have been found in septic processes, and 



