LUMBAR PUNCTURE. T3T 
B. To septicemic infection due to disease in a distant part of the 
body. 
a. Pneumococcic— 
Secondary to pneumonia, endocarditis, &c. 
Pneumococcus. 
b. Pyogenic— 
Secondary to abscesses, &c., and occurring as a part of a 
general infection. 
Staphylococci. 
Streptococci, &c. 
¢. Gonorrhceal— 
Secondary to gonorrheea. 
Gonococcus. 
d. Tubercular— 
Secondary to tuberculosis of other regions. 
Tubercle bacillus. 
é. Miscellaneous— 
Secondary to typhoid fever. 
Typhoid bacillus. 
Secondary to influenza. 
Influenza bacillus. 
Secondary to anthrax, &c. 
Anthrax bacillus, &c. 
Of these the organisms which are most likely to occur 
are Weichselbaum’s diplococcus, the pneumococcus, the 
tubercle bacillus, streptococci, and staphylococci. The 
examination for these bacteria may be carried out by 
means of stained films or cultures. 
Preparation of films.—If the fluid is thick and purulent, 
films should be prepared, dried, and fixed in the 
ordinary way. If the fluid is thin and watery it should 
be allowed to stand for some hours. A certain amount 
of coagulation will take place and the sediment which 
collects will contain the bulk of the micro-organisms. 
This sediment should be removed by means of a pipette 
or platinum loop and films prepared from it. The 
subsequent examination will depend to some extent 
K2 
