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



209 



power of the blood, and by the observed fluctuation in this index. When 

 it was measured two days previously, this index had worked out as 1*4. 



The fact that the opsonic power of the pleural fluid worked out as higher 

 than the opsonic power of the serum was taken as evidence that the 

 pleural effusion had occurred at a period when the opsonic power of the 

 blood was 1 or above 1. 



The diagnosis of tubercular infection of the peritoneum and pleura (and 

 underlying lung) was confirmed at the post-mortem examination. 



Observation 7. — Case of long -continued suppuration of the antrum associated 

 with the presence in the pus of the pneumococcus and the Bacillus fusiformis 

 and Spirillum buccce of Vincent. The patient had been treated by 

 therapeutic inoculations of a pneumococcus vaccine. The patient's serum and 

 the antral pus were examined with a view to determining whether the 

 pneumococcus played any active part in connection with the continuance of 

 the suppuration : — 



Pneumo-opsonic index. 



Serum 4*3 



Fluid obtained from pus by centrifugalisation 0*3 



The results were taken as evidence (a) that the pneumococcus played 

 an active role in connection with the suppuration, and (b) that the 

 protective substances which had been generated in the blood under the 

 influence of inoculation did not come satisfactorily into application upon the 

 micro-organisms in the antrum. 



Observation 8. — Case of whitlow associated with the formation of a blister 

 under the nail. Serum derived from blood from a sound finger and blister 

 fluid were examined. 



Staphylo-opsonic index. 



Serum , 0-8 



Blister fluid 0'3 



The blister fluid yielded a pure culture of staphylococcus. 

 Observation 9. — Rabbit in the early stages of anthrax infection. — Blood 

 obtained from the ear and lymph from the seat of inoculation were examined. 



Anthraco-opsonic index.* 



Serum 1*7 



Lymph 0"62 



* Tested with a suspension of anthrax spores and compared -with the serum of a normal 

 rabbit tested in the same manner. 



It may be noted that all the difficulties and inaccuracies which are associated with 

 the employment of ordinary anthrax cultures in phagocytic experiments can be 

 satisfactorily evaded by the employment of suspensions of anthrax spores. These, when 

 stained with carbol fuchsin and decolourised by - 25 per cent, sulphuric acid, represent 

 absolutely ideal elements for enumeration. 



