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BACILLUS : PATHOGENIC FORMS. 



149 



a lesser extent also in alkaline fluids which contain proteid 

 material. When growing in neutral nourishing fluids, it 

 forms on the bottom of the fluid characteristic fluffy whitish 

 masses, which are convolutions of the characteristic filaments. 

 These appear homogeneous in the fresh state, their ends 

 being slightly thicker and rounded. Examined in pre- 

 parations made after the Weigert-Koch method (i.e. drying 

 of a thin layer and staining it with aniline dyes, washing in 



FIG. 81. FROM AN ARTIFICIAL CULTURE OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS. 



Convolutions of thread*, eacK c imposed of bacilli. 

 Magnifying power 300. (Stained with Spiller's purple.) 



water, then in spirit, then again in distilled water, and then 

 drying and mounting in Canada-balsam solution), all the 

 bacilli and their filaments are seen to be composed of a thin 

 hyaline sheath, and in this is a row of cubical or rod- shaped 

 masses of protoplasm taking the dye very readily. Accord- 

 ing to the length of the bacilli the number of these elemen- 

 tary masses of protoplasm varies. Some of the rod-shaped 



