THE BACTERIOPHAGE IN PYOGENIC INFECTIONS OF THE SKIN

Abstract

The discovery by F. d'Herelle of the phenomenon of bacteriophagia in 1916 and his subsequent development of the subject are well known. In 1921, he¹published the results of much careful work covering many phases of the field opened up by his original observations. Since then, many other investigators have reported on laboratory and clinical investigations confirming these observations. Bacteriophagia may be defined as the dissolution of bacterial cells brought about by a filter passing principle which multiplies at the expense of the attacked bacteria and is therefore capable of exerting its lytic action through an indefinite number of serial passages. Bacteriophage is prepared by suspending approximately 250 million young bacteria in alkaline (<i>p</i>H 7.6) broth and adding a drop of lytic principle known to possess activity for the particular organism. Lysis is usually complete within from twelve to twenty-four hours when the lysate is passed through a