THE HOFMANN BACILLUS 289 



the red colour of the blood. In addition, the Hofmann 

 bacillus does not ferment any sugar, etc. (see Table, p. 292). 



The histories of several cases investigated by Miss 

 Knight and Hewlett seemed to show that the Hofmann 

 bacillus is associated with mild anginal conditions, which 

 are free from complications, end in recovery, and are not 

 followed by sequelae. In many of the cases the anginal 

 condition was associated with distinct patches of mem- 

 brane, and in two symptoms were present suggestive of 

 the toxaemia which is met with in diphtheria. 



In a long series of experiments Hewlett and Miss Knight 

 believed that some evidence was obtained of the conversion 

 of the Hofmann into the Klebs-Loffler bacillus and vice 

 versa. Moreover, the Hofmann bacillus seemed in many 

 instances to replace the Klebs-Loffler bacillus in the throat 

 during convalescence, and it is possible in a large series of 

 cultures to obtain connecting links between the Klebs- 

 Loffler bacillus on the one hand and the Hofmann bacillus 

 on the other. Cobbett, 1 however, suggests that these facts 

 are capable of another explanation, viz. that during the 

 acute stage, diphtheria bacilli being readily found, the 

 Hofmann bacillus is likely to be overlooked, whereas at a 

 later stage a more careful search may be necessary to 

 detect the diphtheria bacillus, and in the course of that 

 search the Hofmann bacillus is therefore more frequently 

 seen. 



Miss Knight and Hewlett came to the conclusion that 

 in some cases, at least, the Hofmann bacillus is a modified 

 Klebs-Loffler bacillus, and the view taken of its relation 

 to the Klebs-Loffler bacillus was, that it is a very attenuated 

 Klebs-Loffler bacillus, i.e. one far removed from virulence. 

 It would therefore seem wise to treat anginal cases in which 

 the pseudo-diphtheria bacillus is found as possibly infective, 

 though it would probably be inexpedient to admit to a 



1 Journ. of Hygiene, vol. i, 1901. 



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