J. The Bacillus Pneumoniæ of Friedlander.
—The bacillus pneumoniæ of Friedländer was at one time regarded as the cause of croupous pneumonia, which is now known to be due to the micrococcus lanceolatus. The Friedländer bacillus, however, is capable of producing bronchopneumonia, and is occasionally met with in empyema, suppurative meningitis, and inflammations about the nasopharyngeal cavity, of which it is known to be an occasional inhabitant.
K. The Bacillus of Rhinoscleroma.
—A distinctive organism has been described for this disease and given this name. It has such wide morphological differences, however, that it is possible that it is only the bacillus of Friedländer above mentioned. At all events, an organism of this general character is constantly found in this disease in the thickened tissues from the nose ([Fig. 8]).
L. The Bacillus of Bubonic Plague.
—This was recently discovered by Kitasato, and, in view of the recent ravages of the disease in the Orient, has assumed considerable importance. It grows upon most media, and is found in the blood, in buboes, and in all internal organs of patients suffering from this disease. The smaller animals are susceptible upon inoculation. Animals fed with inoculated foods die also, showing the possibility of infection through the intestine. When exposed to direct sunlight for a few hours the bacillus dies. The general symptoms of the disease are those of hemorrhagic septicemia and its consequences.
M. The Bacillus of Rauschbrand.
—This is seldom, if ever, seen in this country. It is known in England as “the black-leg” or “quarter-evil.” It is an anaërobic organism, frequently met with in cattle, which causes a peculiar emphysema of subcutaneous tissue, spreads deeply, and is followed by a copious exudate of dark serum with gas formation. The smaller animals are not ordinarily inoculable; but if to the culture material there is added 20 per cent. of lactic acid, their insusceptibility is overcome and they succumb to the disease. So, also, as in the case of the tetanus bacillus, by addition of the bacillus prodigiosus or of proteus vulgaris the disease may be produced in otherwise insusceptible animals.
N. The Bacillus Aerogenes Capsulatus.
—The bacillus aërogenes capsulatus seems capable sometimes of causing pyogenic and even fatal infection. Its presence is associated with gas formation. It grows as an anaërobe.