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1899] 172
Periods.
Diphtheria.
Enteric Fever.
Phthisis.
Positive
Results.
Negative
Results.
Total
Examined
Positive
Results.
Negative
Resnlts.
Total
Examined
Positive
Results.
Negative
Results.
Total
Examined
1898.
3rd Quarter 3 6 9 9 8 17 — — —
4th 8 14 22 22 9 31 — — —
1899.
1st Quarter 12 16 28 4 7 11 7 6 13
2nd 10 7 17 1 9 10 16 19 35
3rd 10 14 24 6 19 25 4 9 13
4th 15 13 28 14 16 30 9 9 18
Totals 58 70 128 56 68 124 36 43 79
In the examination for the diagnosis of Diphtheria and Phthisis
the presence of the bacilli, characteristic of the diseases, is sought
in the throat secretions or in the sputum of the patients, but in the
case of Enteric Fever a small quantity of blood, generally a few
drops, obtained by pricking the tip of a finger or the lobe of an
ear, is examined for what is called " Widal's Reaction." This
examination is made by mixing a loopful of blood from a patient
with a loopful of young typhoid broth culture, in a hanging drop on
a hollow-ground slide, and covering with a cover-glass and examining
under the microscope with a 1/6-inch objective. If the patient
is suffering from enteric fever agglutination and immobility of the
Eberth-Gaffky bacilli* takes place.
This test depends upon the effect of the blood of a person
suffering from enteric fever has upon the B. Typhosus. In the
first place it causes it to become immobile, and in the second
creates an agglutination or grouping together of the bacilli in colonies.
These characteristics are not attained when the blood of a healthy
person is brought into contact with a culture of the Bacillus
Typhosus.†
* Bacillus Typhosus.
"Bacteria," by Newman, London, John Murray.