AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE MENINGOCOCCUS: Together with a Description of an Easily Prepared Medium for that Micro-organism
Authors: M. H. Gordon, T. G. M. Hine
Journal: BMJ (1916)

THE MENINGOCOCCUS.[Nov.z8, 29z6 proposed also to try other disinfectants, or combinations of disinfectants; and, as suggested by Colonel Reece, to compare the effects of the spray upon patients lying on their backs on the floor with the results obtained when they are sitting or standing; and also to see whether multiple inhalations are more successful than a single daily inhalation for the present purpose.It should be added that during some recent experiments with a powerful experimental spray the use of 2 per cent. of chloramine produced a certain amount of bronchial irritation in two medical volunteers who underwent this treatment for catarrh.Although in no sense seriousboth declared their catarrh benefited by the treatment- this effect is undesirable.No such bronchial irritation was observed when 1 per cent. of zinc sulphate was sprayed by the same apparatus.The result would appear to suggest that for disinfection of the nasopharynx of meningococcus carriers the finest possible spray is not essential, since the droplets of disinfectant, if very finely divided, penetrate further along the respiratory tract than is necessary, and reach the bronchi in some quantity.With a weaker solution of chloramine such irritant effect would doubtless be avoided, even in persons suffering, as these were, from a more or less acute form of catarrh at the time when they entered the inhaling room.CONCLUSIONS.These observations have led us to believe that, in the case of carriers of the meningococcus, prognosis with regard to the duration of their future period of carrying varies largely with the degree to which their naso- pharyngeal secretion is infected by the meningococcus.In our experience, the majority of carriers whose naso- pharynx yields only a few colonies of the meningococcus clear up quickly.In the case of these persons good results follow local treatment either by direct application of a 1 per cent.solation of chloramine, or by subjecting them- to inhalation of a steam spray charged with zinc sulphate.On the other hand, carriers whose nasopharyngeal secretion yields a copious growth, or a practically pure culture of the meningococcus, are often far more difficult to cure.The results on these persons with zinc salts were disappointing, but they served to emphasize the success of those obtained with chloramine, which, though still somewhat few in number, are more than encouraging, and would appear to indicate that a large proportion of these chronic carriers can be definitely freed of the meningococcus by this form of treatment in a compara- tively short space of time.We would add that while these observations on meningo- coccus carriers were in progress, several cases of chronic nasal or post-nasal catarrh have been submitted to dis- infectant treatment by the automatic steam spray.As in all of these persons improvement has resulted, we offer the suggestion that this method is worthy of trial on a larger scale for the treatment of such cases.