i8o SUPPURATION AND ALLIED CONDITIONS. 



In certain cases of enteritis it is probably the causal 

 agent, though this is difficult of proof, as it is much increased 

 in numbers in practically all abnormal conditions of the 

 intestine. We may remark that it has been repeatedly 

 proved that the bacillus coli cultivated from various lesions 

 is more virulent than that in the intestine, its virulence 

 having been heightened by growth in the tissues. 



The micrococcus tetragenus is often found in suppurations 

 in the region of the mouth or in the neck, and also occurs 

 in various lesions of the respiratory tract, in phthisical 

 cavities, abscesses in the lungs, etc. Sometimes it is present 

 alone, and probably has a pyogenic action in the human 

 subject under certain conditions. In other cases it is 

 associated with other organisms. Recently one or two 

 cases of pyaemia have been described in which this 

 organism was found in a state of purity in the pus in 

 various situations. In this latter condition the pus has 

 been described as possessing an oily viscous character, and 

 as being often blood-stained. 



The bacillus pyocyanens is rarely found alone in pus, 

 though it is not infrequent along with other organisms. 

 We have met with it twice in cases of multiple abscesses, 

 in association with the staphylococcus pyogenes aureus. 

 Lately some diseases in children have been described in 

 which the bacillus pyocyaneus has been found throughout 

 the body ; in these cases the chief symptoms have been 

 fever, gastro-intestinal irritation, pustular or petechial erup- 

 tions on the skin, and general marasmus. 



Suppurative conditions, associated with the organisms 

 of special diseases, will be described in the respective 

 chapters. 



Mode of Entrance and Spread. Many of the organisms 

 of suppuration have a wide distribution in nature, and many 

 also are present on the skin and mucous membranes of 

 healthy individuals. Staphylococci are commonly present 

 on the skin and also occur in the throat and other parts, 

 and streptococci have a similar distribution and can very 

 often be cultivated from the secretions of the mouth in 



