Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The surgery of the head and neck / by Levi Cooper Lane. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.
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![Through the action of chemical or pliysical agency on living tissue, its life may be tlestroyed and a material produced which has the appearance of i)us. But such pus has not the property of propagation; and it may be named sterile or barren, since it is not inoculable, and cultures can not be grown from it; in fine, it lacks tlie pus-germ. Pus capable of reproduction, transi)lanta- tion, and dissemination originates from a bacterial organism of coccus, streptococcus or staphylococcus form. Wiien the causal agent is in staphylococcus form tlie suppurative action is local- ized, but if the action is migratory, it is due to streptococci. The action of pyogenic bacteria consists in the destruction of the component cells of living ti-^sne; and this destructive action takes place most rapidly in tissue known as inflammatory neoplasm, granulative or embryonic tissue, and also in tissue of which the vitaHty has been impaired by traumatism or other depressing agency. The excreta from these microbes perform the part of ferments or solvents, and thus they })revent coagula- tion which often furnishes a barrier against purulent infection. The surgeon, in asepticising the surface on which he operates, and who afterwards j)rotects the part with aseptic dressing, guards against suppuration. The dermal tegument of the body when in com[)lete integrity, and the intact mucous membranes are effectual barriers against the entrance of pyogenic bacteria. Bacillus Pyocyaneus. . Pus sometimes has a blue color, arising from the presence of a bacterium known by the name of bacillus pyocyaneus. This bacillus is rod-shaped with rounded ends. It develops in the air at ordinary temperature. This bacillus thrives rapidly, and it soon imparts a blue color to the dressing of a suppurating wound which contains the coloring microbe. Chlorinated water is destructive to it, and is one of the best disinfectants for its extermination. If the pyocyanic pus be mixed with chloroform, the pigment is precipitated in crystalline form. Blue or colored pus is not more infective than ordinary i)us. Malignant (Edema. A number of years ago, Pirogofif described a suppurative l)rocess wdiich he named purulent or malignant (edema. Its leading characteristic is rapid diffusion and destruction of the invaded structures, especially of the subcutaneous tissues. The causal agent of this disease was discf>vered by Pasteur, and named by ])im septic vibrio. This microphyte was found later by Koch, and described by him as a bacillus of rod-shape. It is motile and grows rapidly, when excluded from the air. It has](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21215406_0028.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
