The Toxic and Antigenic Properties of Bacterium Welchii

Abstract

Bacterium welchii (Migula), or Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus (Welchj.was discovered in 1891 by Professor Welch in the blood and tissues of a tuberculous person who had died of hemorrhage from the rupture of an aortic aneurism. The entire body was emphysematous and distended with gas. Subsequently this bacillus has been isolated in many pathological conditions, among which may be mentioned emphysematous gangrene and gaseous phlegmons of various tissues following injuries, surgical operations (herniotomy, nephrectomy, urethrotomy, appendectomy, amputations, etc.), salt infusions, hypodermic injections, 'and cholelithiasis. It has also been found in emphysema of the fetus, puerperal eclampsia, physometra, emphysema of the uterine wall, puerperal gas sepsis, urethral stricture with cystitis, emphysema of the bladder, interstitial emphysema of the gastro-intestinal wall, pneumoperitonitis with or without perforation, pneumonia and pulmonary gangrene, and in meningitis. HerterI has suggested that certain anemias, especially in children, may be associated with a chronic invasion of the intestinal tract by B. welchii. In the light of the seeming increasing importance of B. welchii, it was deemed desirable to investigate the immunological relations of this bacterium.