264 BACTERIOLOGY 



CHAPTEE XIII 



THE ORGANS AND CAVITIES OF THE BODY AND THEIR 



CONTENTS {continued) 



IV. Bacteriological Examination op the Eespiratory 

 Tract; and (V.) of the Blood 



The Nasal Secretion 



Micro-organisms in the nasal secretion, — The micro- 

 organisms occurring in the vicinity of men and animals 

 may very easily penetrate into the respiratory passages 

 along with the current of air. They first reach the cavi- 

 ties of the nose, and find in the alkaline viscid mucus 

 there a medium possessing the conditions most suitable for 

 their development. The secretion of the nose contains 

 epithelial cells, both pavement and ciliated, leucocytes, and 

 even in the normal state a considerable number of micro- 

 organisms — cocci, bacilli, and spirilla. Under pathological 

 conditions the nasal mucus becomes thin, and more pus- 

 corpuscles are found, as well as the characteristic micro- 

 organisms m definite local morbid conditions, the kinds of 

 microbe depending upon the variety of disease. 



Micrococcus cunmlatus tenuis, — Von Besser isolated from 

 the normal nasal mucus rather large non-motile cocci, the 

 growth of which does not liquefy gelatine. Upon agar a 

 development of raised colonies appears, showing a thin 

 zone with ragged edges around a central nucleus. Pota- 

 toes are not favourable for its growth. 



Mirococcus tetragenus subflavus shows non-motile cocci 



