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Typhoid Fever—
60 samples of blood from suspected Typhoid cases have been
examined, and in 11 (i.e., 18'3 per cent.) the characteristic
Widal reaction was obtained, although in three of the cases (i.e.,
27.3 per cent.) this reaction was but slightly (or feebly) marked.
In 49 (i.e., 81.7 per cent.) no reaction was obtained. Experience
shows that, with a well-marked reaction obtained with a high
dilution of the suspected blood-serum (1-60 to 1-100), the Widal
test is most trustworthy, and exceedingly useful, consequently,
in settling the diagnosis in doubtful cases of illness which have
the appearance of Typhoid. It is not advisable to lay too much
stress upon a feebly (slightly) marked reaction, unless accompanied
by one (or more) of the well-known clinical symptons of
typhoid in the patient from whom the sample of blood has been
taken. In this connection, the "paratyphoid" bacillus must be
remembered—a bacillus (with many varieties) closely related to
the bacillus typhosus. This bacillus causes the malady known
as "paratyphoid" fever, affecting chiefly young adults, and the
symptoms resemble closely those of typhoid fever, though less
severe as a rule. The Widal reaction is absent (or but slightly
developed) in paratyphoid patients- an important bacteriological
diagnostic sign.
Diphtheria—
190 samples of throat membranes and secretions from doubtful
Diphtheria cases have been examined, and in 19 (i.e., 10 per
cent.) the true (Klebs-Lœlfler) bacilli have been obtained. In
14 instances (i.e., 78.7 per cent.) the Klebs-Lœffler bacilli were
obtained in pure cultivation—i.e., without admixture with other
bacilli, whereas in the remaining 5 (i.e., 26.3 per cent.) the
Klebs-Lœffler bacilli were found combined with other wellknown
bacilli as follows :—
Klebs-Loeffler † Staphylococci †
Smegma 1 i.e., 5.3 per cent.
Klebs-Lœffler -† Staphylococci 3 i.e., 15.9 per cent.
Klebs-Lœffler † Streptococci 1 i.e., 5.3 per cent.