1905.] On Tubercular Infection in a Patient's Blood, etc. 197 



Example 1. — Child with Tubercular Caries of the Fibula, associated with 

 Constitutional Disturbance. 



Dates of blood Tuberculo- 



examinations. opsonic index. 



11.9.05 1-45 



14.9.05 1-71 



19.9.05 1-3 



28.9.05 0-98 



30.9.05 Operation, fibula scraped. 



2.10.05 1-73* 



3.10.05 1-13 



10.10.05 1-3 



Example 2. — Adult Patient with Tubercular Caries of the Spine and 

 Constitutional Disturbance. 



Date of blood 

 examination. 



Tubereulo-opsonic 

 index. 



Kemarks. 



19.5.05 



0- 65 

 1 -i 

 1 3 



1- 

 0-8 



1 Temperature disturbance and pain associated 

 | ■with development of abscess. 



1 Temperature returns to normal in association 

 J with spontaneous discharge of abscess. 





22.5.05 



23.5.05 



24.5.05 





Example 3. — Adult Patient with extensive Psoas Abscess and Generalisation 

 of Tubercle. Case has since terminated fatally. 



Date of blood 

 examinations. 



8.2.05 



9.2.05 

 11.2.05 



Tubereulo-opsonic 

 index. 

 2 



2-4 

 0-6 



Suggested Interpretation of the Different Findings in these two Categories of 



Cases. 



The explanation of the difference in the condition of the blood in these two 

 contrasted categories of cases is probably the following : The condition of 

 low opsonic power which is associated with strictly localised tuberculosis is 

 almost certainly a condition which has preceded and has furnished the oppor- 

 tunity for infection. The fact that the opsonic index continues persistently 



*A rise in the opsonic power similar to this here registered has been repeatedly 

 observed by us in connection with the stirring up by surgical interference of tubercular- 

 foci. 



VOL. LXXVn. — B. P 



