Investigations into the etiology of traumatic infective diseases

MIUIlO-OliaANISMH IN RELATIONTOThat the development of these miliary purulent deposits, which occur also in other organs in typhus, pyiemia, dtc., is produced by parasitic organisms, in other words hy bacteria, was shown almost simnltaneously by Yon llecklinghausen and Waldeyer.Von Eecldinghansen * describes the bodies found in the smallest renal veins, in the glomeruli, urinary tubules, and pulmonary alveoli, under the name of micrococci, and states that they may be distinguished from detritus hy the uniform size of their granules and by their resistance to the action of glycerine, acetic acid, caustic soda, &c.He likewise calls attention to the brownish colour of the centre of the deposit, as Avell as to the fact that the uriniferous tubules and the vessels in Avhich the micrococci lie are very much distended at intervals.Waldeyer conlirmed Eindfleisch's statement regarding the occurrence of numerous miliary bacteric deposits in the substance of the heart in pytemia, and he also found bacteria in small abscess-like spots in the kidneys.Attention Avas directed by these investigations to the bac- teria, Avhich are present in metastatic deposits in pysemia, and Avhich up to that time had been overlooked or regarded as unimportant.These statements were confirmed and extended by many similar observations, and it may now be regarded as an established fact that, in most of the metastatic deposits m py®mia, bacteria in the form of the so-called zooglaea aviII, on careful examination, be found.Nothing essentially new, Avitli some exceptions to be noticed directly, has, however, been added by later investigations to the original observations ol Eindfieisch, Von Eecklinghausen, and AValdeyer.It is therefore unnecessary to take special notice of the numerous papers on this subject.It is worthy of mention that P. Vogtt has seen moving "monads," even during life, in the metastatic deposits of a pygemic individual.It now natm-ally occurred to observers to subject the pus of wounds to examination, m order to ascer- tain if the bacteria, found in the metastatic deposits, accumu-V Vortrag in der Wiirzb.plxysik.-naed.Ges. 10 Juni, 1871 (quoted from Birch-Hivsclifeld, Med.Jalirbb., f Ceutralblatt fill-die mediciu, WiHaenscluiit.Ib^, .o.