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THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
Stephenson 41 states that muco-purulent catarrh does not last long, and even 
when not subjected to treatment does not produce any serious or permanent lesion of 
the eye. He says that the most important forms of disease which are prevalent in 
schools are follicular ophthalmia and trachoma. The supposed transition of follicular 
disease into trachoma has arisen, it is thought, from children with follicular disease 
being placed in wards with trachomatous children from whom they have contracted 
that infectious disease. Very few instances of trachoma occurred in children under 
two years of age. 
IX. Diplo-Bacillary Conjunctivitis 
In the out-patient department of the Royal Infirmary a number of patients 
applying tor treatment for refractive errors was met with, who, on enquiry, gave a 
history of a little discharge in the morning ' gumming ' the lids and sensations of 
burning or grit in the eyes. 
No definite history as to duration could be obtained ; they had all suffered 
from morning discharge for some time. Twelve cases have been investigated ; the 
patients were all middle-aged women and at the time of observation the disease was 
symmetrical. 
When the lids were everted the conjunctiva was seen to be congested and 
slightly velvety, but even in the most protracted case there was no cicatricial distor- 
tion or thickening of the eyelids. 
In some of the cases there was a small pellicle of white muco-pus floating in 
the lachrymal fluid, and perhaps a little dried secretion around the roots of the 
eyelashes. 
In films of the discharge the organism most frequently observed was a short 
thick bacillus, commonly seen in pairs, but also in short chains of eight or more 
elements. 
Cultures on Serum. After twenty-fours incubation at 3 8° C. the surface of the 
serum was eroded with numerous shallow pits which, on further incubation, grew 
rapidly in depth and extent, liquefying the serum. 
At first no growth was visible, but later a little greyish growth appeared at 
the bottom of the pits. 
Film preparations of this growth showed a short thick bacillus ; involution 
forms were early and exceedingly irregular in shape. 
In nine out of twelve cases this bacillus was cultivated. 
Analysis of Twelve Cases 
Case Organisms Isolated 
1 ... B. lacunatus (Eyre). 
2 ... B. lacunatus. 
