In addition to the presence of the specific bacillus in the membrane, we also have a number of other organisms, like the _Bacillus coli_, _Coccus Brissou_, _Streptococcus pyogenes_, and various staphylococci, diplococci, etc. Each of these produces or endeavours in the midst of keen competition and strife to produce, its own specific effect. Thus we obtain the complications of diphtheria, for example various suppurative and septic conditions. The whole of this compound process we may tabulate roughly as follows[77]: | BACILLUS OF DIPHTHERIA = primary infective _Bacillus coli._ | | agent. _Coccus Brissou._ | Inflammatory changes and fibrinous exudation. Staphylococci. | | Diplococci. | FERMENT IN MEMBRANE = secondary infective Streptococci. | | agent. | | Passes through body, and Toxins. | by digestion of proteids | | produces { ALBUMOSES: Suppurative glands, | { AN ORGANIC ACID. septic poisoning, | | etc. | 1. Fever. | 2. Diarrhœa. | 3. Loss of body weight. | 4. Fatty degeneration. | 5. Degeneration of | peripheral nerves, and | resulting paralysis. Such is the general effect of toxins in diphtheria. The same principles apply with equal force in tetanus, typhoid, etc., the only differences being in degree of virulence, mode of onset, and portions of the body chiefly affected. Sidney Martin has recently[78] elaborated the views announced by him in 1892, and it is right that reference should be made to his new classification of bacterial poisons. This may be represented as follows:-- 1. The poisons secreted by the bacterium itself } = (ferment? toxin?) } 2. Products of digestive action of bacterium = } = Extracellular albumoses: } bacterial poisons. 3. Final non-proteid products = animal alkaloid; } 4. Poisons present in the bodies of the bacillus = Intracellular bacterial poisons.