Abstract
There are a number of cases of obscure infection, especially of the lungs, which pass frequently as tuberculosis, clinically showing many similar symptoms, without, however, tubercle bacilli. Quite a proportion of these cases are due to a streptothrix infection. Detection by sputum examination is not nearly so easy or so definite as in tuberculosis, and after working over the subject in a variety of ways it seemed possible that a skin test similar to that made by old tuberculin might help in the problem. From two species of these organisms, S. eppingeri, a partly acid-fast type, and S. hominis (III, Foulerton), a preparation was made exactly analogous to Koch's old tuberculin (a glycerine bouillon filtrate concentrated to 1/10th its original volume, making a 50 per cent. glycerin extract). The organisms were grown 4-6 weeks at 37° C. in 5 per cent. glycerine bouillon.
After making three slight abrasions of the skin on the upper arm with a von Pirquet chisel, the three preparations were gently rubbed in, leaving them to dry for 10 minutes. The tuberculin was used as a control in each case, and the streptotricin preparations compared with it.
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