xiii. b, 4 Proceedings of the Manila Medical Society 215 



a hemolytic complement in 30 per cent. Both of these substances 

 were absent in the fluids of controls. 



9. Substances inhibiting saponin hemolysis were not found 

 in the fluids of cases, two to twenty-one days after the onset 

 of paralysis. 



10. A definite and absolute diagnostic criterion or laboratory 

 test has not been discovered. A clear or slightly opalescent 

 fluid flowing under increased pressure, sterile as examined by 

 smear and culture when collected aseptically, poor in fibrin, re- 

 ducing Fehling's solution, and containing an increased number 

 of cells chiefly of the mononuclear variety are the most constant 

 findings. An increase of protein and a high potassium per- 

 manganate reduction index strengthen the diagnosis, while a, 

 colloidal gold reaction of the luetic and meningitic zone types 

 and the presence of natural antisheep hemolysis are helpful 

 diagnostic data. 



CRYPTOPLASMIC INFECTION 

 ) 9d foluoo ..■trl^jjg^.j"r> fi< h w WadW' 3 ^ 



The findings in cultures of material from a group of ulcers of 

 undetermined, causation seen in Hagonoy, Rizal, were described. 

 Spirochetal, "blastomycotic," etc. r etiology was : negatived by 

 absence of the characteristic microscopic findings, and yaws and 

 syphilis could, it was thought, be eliminated-. 



In certain of the cultures of tissue fragments on special, media 

 the tissue cells, whether in spite of or because of overgrowth 

 by bacteria contaminating the lesions, underwent apparently 

 additive changes that sometimes produced deeply staining bodies 

 not ordinarily seen in such material. These were referred to 

 as "basic" bodies. In one culture from each of two cases, after 

 considerable time, a Cryptococcus was found. 



This fungus, classifiable as a Cryptococcus, was of an unusual 

 type. It was not in the least saprophytic, did not even produce 

 visible colonies, and did not multiply in subcultures. Therefore 

 it could not be isolated. 



The source of the fungus was not apparent. It was suggested 

 that, in view of its late appearance in the cultures and its very 

 unusual lack of cultivability, it might have arisen from the basic 

 bodies. In this case it may have been concerned in the etiology 

 of the lesions in an unrecognizable form. 



These observations constitute a contribution toward the estab- 

 lishment of a hypothetical "cryptoplasmic" mode of infection. 

 According to this hypothesis, which refers primarily to certain 

 fungus infections, an invading organism may, whether occa- 



