A STUDY OF THE BACTERIOLOGY OF CHRONIC PROSTATITIS AND SPERMATOCYSTITIS: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ARTHRITIS

It is now widely believed that chronic foci of infection may cause metastases, with resulting disease, in various organs of the body. There is considerable experimental and clinical evidence on which to base this belief. The work of Billings 1 and Rosenow especially has demonstrated the relationship between chronic focal infections and chronic arthritis and nephritis, and suggests that cardiovascular changes, myositis and neuritis may also be caused by similar foci, which have usually been located in the head. That the prostate and seminal vesicles may be the seat of such foci is presumptive, but other foci (the head especially) must be carefully eliminated or considered before such a diagnosis can be made. However, since many arthritides have been cured or improved, or the process stopped by draining a focus in one or both seminal vesicles, as demonstrated by Fuller, 2 Squier, 3 Young 4 and Barney, 5 it seems