During the past ten years we have been interested in the bacteriology of the nonsensitive or asthmatic bronchitis type of asthma, since it is in this type that less is known concerning the cause; furthermore, this type seems to be infectious. Specimens of sputum from 724 patients have been studied during this time. It is during the changeable and cold seasons of the year that the majority of patients suffer from asthmatic bronchitis; therefore, the bacteriologic examinations have been made during the fall, winter and spring of each year since 1918. Consequently, this study was divided into nine periods, namely, the fall, winter and spring of each year since 1918.
Previous to this study, we were accustomed to classify streptococci into three groups, namely, Streptococcus uiridans, S. hemolysans and S. alpha hemolysans, but it was soon learned that this classification was not only confusing, but incomplete. It was confusing because