2. Morgan has reported as the cause of certain bacillary dysenteries a bacillus known as B. Morgan No. 1. It is motile, produces indol, and in glucose bouillon gives a very slight amount of gas. It does not change mannite and does not produce a primary acidity in litmus milk. This organism is a frequent cause of summer diarrhoea of children. Flies from houses with such cases often show Morgan’s bacillus.
Paratyphoid infections may give the clinical picture of a colitis and such cases at times show a large amount of blood in the dysenteric stools. Usually the symptoms are rather those of an entero-colitis or a gastro-enteritis.
3. In Japan, dysentery-like epidemics of a very fatal disease, termed ekiri, occur among young children. The organism is very motile, producing gas and acid in glucose, but not in lactose media. It is reported at times to show indol production. Apparently a member of the Gärtner group.
4. Spirillar dysentery. LeDantec has reported a type of dysentery which shows the presence of great numbers of spiral forms. These are Gram negative and noncultivable. It is in question whether they belong to the bacteria. There is no fever in this type of dysentery.
5. Other bacterial causes. Cases of dysentery have been reported as caused by B. pyocyaneus, streptococci, atypical B. coli and organisms of the Gärtner group.
In a Pyocyaneus infection the color of the stools would be suggestive. This cause should be borne in mind in the dysenteric infections of debilitated children in the tropics. Some of the cases of so-called ptomaine poisoning due to members of the Gärtner group have clinical similarities to dysentery especially at the commencement of the attack.
C. Dysenteries resulting from mechanical irritants or poisonous substances.
A very interesting form of poisoning which gives rise to serious illness or death and is attended with marked abdominal pain and manifestations of dysentery is that reported from North China through the use of short lengths of bristles which are given mixed with the food.
Various irritant metallic poisons as arsenic, antimony and mercury may give rise to dysenteric symptoms. In cancer and syphilis of the rectum there may be a suspicion that the process is an ordinary dysenteric one.