Note on the discovery of a microorganism in Malta Fever / by David Bruce.

David Bruce

Date:: [date of publication not identified]

Credit: Note on the discovery of a microorganism in Malta Fever / by David Bruce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

13/26 page 164

$Malta Dr. Caruaiia-Scicluna and I made some thirty or forty inoculations into sterilized tubes of xVgar-agar jelly with blood taken from the tip of the finger of ten of the most severe cases. The following was the method of proceilure :— The finger, having been well washed Avith soap and hot water, was purified with a strong solution of corrosive sul>limate, and afterwards with absolute alcohol. A sterilized needle was used to make the puncture, and the hhiod inoculated into the jrdly by means of a previously heated platinum wire. No definite result followed. In most cases the tubes remained absolutely sterile ; in two only a growth .a2)})eared—one a torula., and the other a lar^re micrococcus. O One of these cases having unfortunately proved fatal on Gth July, an opportunity was given to test the result of inocu¬ lations from the spleen. The following chart represents the course of the fever:— Date Day of Dili ease June 1 i 25 1 i 27 . 28 I 29' 'July\ I 30\ 1 \ 2 \ 1 ^ ! o 1 1 4 ^ 5 ' 6 1 1 1 j ! i 1887 i I r 1 2 ! 3 1 4 ' 5 ! 6 ' 7^8' 9 ■ 10 ! 11 12 i 1 1 ■ ! 1 107 i 1 1 .L_i 1 1 t 1 1 1 • Died ! 1 1 106 I 1 1 i 1 ' i 1 105 1 1 104 o -yv JK A V a; 1 ' 103 - If'' j 102 101 100 — 09 98 Pulse 1 705 106 703 lol¬ lop 700 7/0 700 Pesi>. 35 1 37? 42 46 : 48 i 48 42 48 54 Stools 0 2 0 2 0 1 i 0 0 1 1 7 7 1 7 7 ! Case II.—Private H. D., 1st R.H., aged 24, admitted 25th June, 1887 ; died 5.30 p.m., 6th July, 1887. As it is absolutely necessary in hot climates, from sanitary considerations, to do post-mortem examinations as soon as possible$

Note on the discovery of a microorganism in Malta Fever / by David Bruce.

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