Pneumococcus conjunctivitis / by Fred T. Tooke.

  • Tooke, Fred T.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Pneumococcus conjunctivitis / by Fred T. Tooke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    sudden resolution and the arrest of symptoms independent of stea(^y tTeament of the conjunctiva characterises the pneumococcus as the re- sponsible exciting agent. The very frequent association of a distinct coryza is not characteristic in a Koch-Weeks bacillus infection to the same extent. If we are to accept typical cases of the disease, these appear to run more in epidemics than as isolated cases. Instances have been remarked where children have seemed to be selected in an outbreak of the disease although adults exposed to pre- cisely the same degree of contamination have escaped, These out- breaks, so frequently observed in epidemic form among children, do nbt appear to have been noticed among adults unlike the Koch-Weeks inflammation, only isolated eases appearing as a general rule. An out- break in adults, if we are to regard it as such, is generally of a very mild nature compared to that seen in children and can hardly be con- sidered as an epidemic contrasted with the epidemics of Koch-Weeks conjunctivitis. It is consequently quite possible that in a large proportion of adults the conjunctiva possesses a certain power of resis- tance to the pneumococcus not found in chilren. I have already remarked that a light superficial false membrane may be formed on the palpebral conjunctiva; some types occasionally are more severe and may simulate the croupous or diphtheritic forms. An iritis may be produced by resorption of the toxines of the pneumococcus without there being of necessity a corneal involvement. Gasparrini, whose cases appear to have been particularly severe, as well as Eymo- witsch, has remarked upon this fact. This iritis may remain after all the indications of the conjunctivitis have subsided. Although an infection of the cornea by the pneumococcus as an ulcus serpens will follow an insignificant abrasion of its protecting epithelium this complication fortunately seldom occurs where the corneal epithe- lium remains intact. In support of this statement Coppez has shown that in the intact cornea colonization of the bacteria in this tissue seldom occurs. The marked importance of the pneumococcus infection of the conjunctiva in the new-born has been commented upon by several authorities. The concensus of opinion points to the fact that this form of inflammation is of a benign nature, more so at least than that produced by the gonococcus. Cases of blenorrhcea neonatorum due to the pneu- mococcus are comparatively rarely seen. The existence of follicles in pneumococcus conjunctivitis is very occasionally noticed and when found in any quantity they can generally be attributed to causes other than the pneumococcus. Gasparrini and Ferri report cases Avhere con- ditions of trachoma have been improved after a subsequent infection