OF TWO UNUSUAL CASES *

S I N C E 1900, every review lf 2 '3 ' 4 ' 5 of the exciting causes of bacterial endocarditis has always included the Streptococcus, hemolyticus and mitior, Diplococcus pneumoniae, the Hemophilus influenzae, the Staphylococcus aureus and the Neisseria gonorrheae. These organisms no longer arouse comment when found. However, it is still unusual to see cases due to other bacteria and this report concerns itself mainly with the rarer forms of bacterial endocarditis. A review of the literature reveals reports of many isolated cases of endocarditis due to organisms ordinarily considered non-pathogenic, some of cases due to organisms pathogenic for man but rarely involving the heart, and finally, a few cases caused by organisms which defy classification. These observations are not new, for Horder 2 in 1909 noted that " micro-organisms difficult to classify are not seldom obtained from cases of endo-carditis even during Wit'1 It is still true, however, that when compared with the common causative bacteria the incidence of the rarer forms i