The Role of the Phagocyte in Cerebrospinal Meningitis. 429 



attached to the surface of the leucocytes in (1) have been uninjured by the 

 glucose. The immediate growth of (1), as compared with (2), is probably to 

 be sought for in the fact that in (1) the glucose disorganises and destroys 

 the leucocytes, so that the microbes they contain are more rapidly set free to 

 grow, while in (2) the normal saline keeps the leucocytes longer intact, and 

 their microbes are only set free to grow after a considerable interval. 



Experiment 3. 



This experiment was a repetition of 2, with spinal fluid from a case whose 

 condition was critical when the lumbar puncture was made. The leucocytes 

 were probably less favourable for the experiment than in the former 

 instance. Practically the same result, however, was obtained. In 

 figs. 1 and 2 are shown photographs of the growths of the glucose and 

 saline deposits of the experiment respectively at the end of 24 hours. It 

 will be seen that the glucose-washed deposit has grown much more than that 

 in the normal saline. At the end of 48 hours the growth on the two plates 

 was practically equal. 



How far are we justified in drawing conclusions from Experiments 2 and 

 3 ? It is hard to believe that the abundant growths in both experiments 

 with the glucose-washed deposit is due entirely to the accelerating action of 

 the glucose on the few microbes remaining attached to the exterior of the 

 leucocytes. That is, if we suppose all the microbes within the leucocytes 

 to be dead. Taking into consideration all the facts of the case, we think 

 there is a certain amount of evidence in favour of the view that the microbes 

 were alive within the leucocytes. 



Experiment 4. 



Leucocytic deposit from the fresh spinal fluid (N. H.) was washed three 

 times with sterile 0"85 per cent, saline and divided into two portions. One 

 was kept intact, while the other was crushed with sterile glass powder. 

 Samples of each were planted out, and the remainder were left to stand for 

 three hours in a large bulk of normal saline. They were then thoroughly 

 centrifuged and planted out. 



Expt. 4. — Leucocytic deposit from spinal fluid (N. H.), containing many free and 

 enclosed cocci, was washed three times in 0'85 per cent. NaCl, and divided into two 

 portions. Portion (a) was kept intact, while portion (6) was crushed up with sterile 

 glass powder. Samples of each were then planted out, and the remaining portions were 

 then allowed to stand in sterile - 85 per cent. NaCl for three hours. They were then 

 centrifuged thoroughly and planted out. 



