Suppurative Infiamviation. 



277 



(In man the name diphtheria is applied to a specific infectious disease 

 caused by bacillus diphthcrice, usually accompanied by deeply penetrating 

 fibrinous inflamnialion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane. Anatomically 

 similar conditions, due, however, to other causative agents, are spoken of 

 as diphtheroid, to distinguish them from true diphtheria. This name 

 diphtheria has not been happily chosen, however, as it really means inflam- 

 mation of the membrane.) 



Suppurative InflammatioH with its product pus (Latin, pus; 

 Greek, rb niov) is characterized by the hquefaction of the exudate 

 and inflamed tissue (purulent softening) and by the important pres- 

 ence in the exudate of fatty degenerating- leucocytes which have lost 

 their power of movement ; in addition it is always the result of in- 

 fection with microorganisms known collectively as the pyogenic 

 bacteria (pus bacteria). There are a number of these microorgan- 

 isms occurring free in nature, mainly belonging to the groups of 

 staphylococci, streptococci and colon bacilli, which are liable to gain 

 access to the tissues through traumatic lesions or which may even 

 penetrate from the unbroken surface through the pores of the skin 



Fig. .:.r>. # 



Small intestine (laid opeu) of liog showing diphtheritic inflammation in swine 



plague. 



or through lymph follicles. In addition to these specific pyogenic 

 bacteria, whose most important influence is the production of pus, 

 there are many other microphytes which are also capable of induc- 

 ing suppuration, but which, because of special peculiarities of their 

 toxic properties and the peculiarities of the diseases which they 

 cause, receive special names, as the glanders bacillus, bacterium of 

 chicken cholera, and actinomyces. Wherever suppuration occurs in 

 a part an infection is to be suspected. This statement, first empha- 

 sized by Lister and Hunter, and of the utmost importance in sur- 

 gery, is not impaired by the fact that suppuration may be artificially 

 produced in experimental manner without the aid of bacteria by 

 means of aseptic chemicals as by subcutaneous injection of turpen- 

 tine, croton oil, chloride of zinc or corrosive sublimate, under con- 

 ditions which thoroughly exclude the possibility of infection. Such 

 an aseptic suppuration occurs under natural conditions only in the 

 rarest instances, and dififers from the ordinary bacterial suppuration 



