TETRAGENUS. 445

The organisms are fcnmd in small numbers in the
heart's blood, but are numerous in the spleen, lungs,
liver, and kidneys.

House-mice and field-mice are comparatively immune ;
dogs and rabbits are also highly resistant. Guinea-pigs
sometimes die from general infection, though sometimes
local abscesses may be the only result of subcutaneous
inoculation.

The tetragenococci are of no special importance in
human pathology, but probably hasten the tissue-necrosis
in tuberculosis pulmonalis, and may aid in the formation
of abscesses of the lung and contribute to the production
of the hectic fever.