184 IMPORTANT VARIETIES OF FISSION-FUNGI. 



fatty acid ; from dextrose : lactic, acetic, and valerianic acids ; from 

 glycerin : lactic, isobutyric, valerianic, and propionic acids (Terni). 



(d) Sulphuretted hydrogen : Rapid and abundant. 



(e) Indol : Only a little. 



(/) Sometimes it produces a vigorous fermentation of 

 urea (Barlow, Mann). Other cultures are almost without 

 effect upon urea. 



(g) Poisons : See under animal experiments. 



Distribution. — (a) Outside the animal organism : In 

 milk, wash-water, dirty water (little in pure water and 

 soil), and air it is widely distributed. The Micr. pyogenes 

 makes up lO'/r of the micro-organisms found in the air of 

 surgical operation room (compare Ullmann, Z. H. iv, 55). 



(6) In healthy body : Upon the skin, especially of the 

 head, in the mouth and vagina, and not uncommonly in 

 the cervix uteri. Also found in the milk of healthy 

 women. 



(c) In diseased human organism: All processes accom- 

 panied by suppuration or only inflammation in the various 

 regions of the body may be caused hj staphylococci, and 

 are thus caused in a large percentage of cases. In other 

 cases they act together with the Strept. pyogenes, Strept. 

 lanceolatus, Bact. coli, Bact. typhi, etc. It must, how- 

 ever, alwa5'S be firmly maintained that the last-named 

 organisms (as well as some others) may alone equally well 

 cause suppuration. 



The following affections especially are often dependent 

 upon staphylococci : Acne of the sebaceous glands, sycosis 

 of the hair follicles, hydradenitis of the sweat glands, 

 pemphigus, ^ phlegmon, furuncle, abscess, periostitis, osteo- 

 myelitis, septicopyemia. ^ 



They rarely cause erysipelas (Jordan) . Fibrinous inflammation may 

 also be caused by them (Guthmauu). Gradenigo and Maggiora ob- 

 served croupous inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane caused 

 by staphylococci (C. B. viir, 611). 



^ Consult also page 188. 



^ Sahli has demonstrated it in the joints in a case of articular rheu- 

 matism. Singer has constantly cultivated staphylococci or (more rarely) 

 streptococci from the urine in seventeen cases of severe and mild artic- 

 ular rheumatism. The organisms were abundant during the disease 

 and disappeared with recovery (C. B. xvill, 130). 



