PATHOGENICITY OF COLON BACILLUS 387 



The B. coli is a pyogenic organism, and has been met 

 with in ischio-rectal abscesses (probably the B. pyogenes 

 fetidus of Passet). Possibly it causes in some instances 

 the pneumonia and pleurisy occurring after peritonitis, 

 for it has been obtained from the lung and pleura in these 

 conditions, but it must be recognised that the B. coli 

 is a common secondary or terminal infection. B. coli 

 sometimes induces puerperal fever and other forms of 

 septicaemia and it is a common cause of cystitis and other 

 infections of the urinary tract. 



In the Pictou cattle disease, characterised by extensive 

 hepatic cirrhosis, Adami found a minute diplococcus or 

 short bacillus. A similar form was afterwards isolated 

 by him in hepatic cirrhosis in man. Miss Abbot, 1 from 

 a study of several such cases, came to the conclusion 

 that this organism is a variety of the B. coli. It has been 

 suggested that hepatic cirrhosis is produced by poisons 

 or toxins, e.g. of the B. coli, and that alcoholism, the usual 

 cause assigned, is but an exciting or secondary agent. 



Anti-serum and vaccine. Attempts have been made to 

 prepare an anti-serum for B. coli infections, but they have 

 met with little or no success. 



A vaccine prepared by sterilising cultures by heat and 

 standardising has been used successfully in the treatment 

 of chronic B. coli infections, e.g. cholangitis, cholecystitis, 

 pyelitis, and cystitis. The B. coli vaccine is more toxic 

 than most vaccines, and small doses must therefore be 

 given (see p. 221). 



Clinical Examination 



(1) The appearance and odour of the pus are often characteristic. 

 Smears of the pus show small bacilli, which are decolorised by 

 Gram's method. 



1 Journ. Path, and Bad., vol. vi, 1900, No. 3, p. 315 (Bibliog.). 



