PRODUCERS OF ABSCESS, CELLULITIS, ETC. 467 
shown by experiments that cultures of the staphylo- 
coccus, when sterilized by boiling and injected subcuta- 
neously into dogs, will produce local abscesses. Leber 
found also that sterilized cultures introduced into the 
anterior chamber of the rabbit’s eye would bring about 
a fibro-purulent inflammation, the cornea becoming in- 
sensible, and perforation alongside of the sclerotic ring 
finally taking place, followed by the formation of pus 
in the anterior chamber and recovery. These local 
changes are the results of the inoculation of small quan- 
tities only of the dead cultures; but when large amounts 
are injected into a vein or into the abdominal cavity, 
toxic effects are produced. Dogs and guinea-pigs thus 
treated usually die, showing symptoms of poisoning. 
From the bodies of the bacteria Leber obtained, by 
treating them with alcohol and ether, a crystalline, 
chemical substance, which he called phlogosin. This 
substance, which is an energetic pus-producer, is sup- 
posed to be the active principle of the staphylococcus 
aureus. 
Immunization. Immunity against staphylococcus in- 
fection may be produced in different animal species 
by the injection of increasing doses of the pure culture, 
either living or previously sterilized by boiling. Reichel 
thus succeeded in immunizing dogs against a surely 
fatal dose of living as well as dead staphylococci. 
Viquerat claims to have immunized horses in the same 
way. 
The blood-serum of animals which have been im- 
munized by means of living or dead cultures possesses 
slight immunizing and curative effects in other animals, 
but no practical use of the serum has been attempted 
in man. 
