288 MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



suppuration seen in an abscess. This happens when the sup- 

 purative condition is comphcated by other pathological proc- 

 esses, or when there is inflammation of another variety with- 

 out suppuration. These differences in their action depend 

 largely upon the organ affected. One such condition is osteo- 

 myelitis, which is suppuration occurring in bone, but which 

 does not present the ordinary picture of pus-formation owing to 

 the hard and unyielding character of the tissue. Other condi- 

 tions of very great importance are meningitis, pericarditis, 

 pleuritis, croupous and broncho-pneumonia, peritonitis and 

 endocarditis. It will be observed that these affections are, for 

 the most part, inflammations of the serous membranes. Such 

 inflammations, when they are produced by pyogenic bacteria, 

 are likely to be of great severity, accompanied by the formation 

 of fibrinous exudates; pus-formation may or may not be pres- 

 ent. We find that the cause at times is the Staphylococcus 

 pyogenes aureus; this is often the case in malignant endocar- 

 ditis. Generally speaking, in such inflammations the Strep- 

 tococcus pyogenes, the Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus and the 

 pneumococcus occur most commonly, although they are by no 

 means the only organisms found. Many cases of peritonitis 

 show the presence of B. coli communis, either in combination 

 with other bacteria or alone.* This is explained by the 

 proximity of the intestine, and especially by the frequent oc- 

 currence of peritonitis after perforation of the intestine.f 



The process of absorption as it occurs in the peritoneum, as 

 shown by Buxton, and TorreyJ is as follows: 



Sohd particles, bacteria or other particles, if injected into the 

 peritoneal cavity are quickly taken up into the lymph channels 

 of the diaphragm thence they are transported through the 

 lymph-glands into the thoracic duct and the blood-vessels. At 



*Flexner. Etiology, etc., of Peritonitis. Philadelphia Medical Joiirnal 

 November 12, 1898. 

 t Buxton and Torrey. 

 XJourn. Med. Res. XV., 1906. pp. 1-88. Ibid. XVI., 1907. 



