53 



auction by exospores. If we therefore assume that the granules 

 of Nocardiae are spores, and more especially endospores, we can 

 no longer bring the Nocardiae under the Fungi Imperfecti. In 

 this connection the drawing of fig. 2 has some interest. In the 

 midst of the medium clusters of spores are yisible. They are 

 all contained in threads, but the formation is so closely arranged 

 that the structure cannot be discovered in details. There cer- 

 tainly is a possibility that in these formations we may one day 

 recognise a sporangium. 



Pathogenicity. The pathogenicity of this fungus for guinea- 

 pigs has been mentioned above. Injection of small quantities 

 into the peritonial cavity of guinea-pigs prove fatal in about 

 14 days. On section a number of white nodular swellings is 

 found in the peritoneum. The other organs are apparently 

 normal. Microscopically (fig. 3) these nodules are seen to con- 

 sist of an outer wall of epithelioid cells and leukocytes surroun- 

 ding a cavity tilled with fluid, In this fluid we find starshaped 

 growths of the fungus, mostly in close connection with the 

 epithelioid cells and often sending its branches between them. 



Vaccine treatment. Attempts at vaccine treatment have been 

 undertaken in similar affections. Petruschky (3) noted very suc- 

 cessfull cases. In the case described here a vaccin was prepared 

 from young cultures of the Nocardia on agar, killed by heat. 

 After three injections patient reported that he produced less 

 sputum, coughed less, and could sleep on both sides. Further 

 injections brought no further improvement. Patient considers 

 himself in a better condition than before, but not cured. 



A second course of vaccination, this time comprising all 

 bacteria that could be isolated from the sputum, had no effect 

 at all. 



References. 



(1). Castellani and Chalmers. Manual of tropical medicine. 



1913- 

 (2). Lehmann and Neumann. Bakteriologische Diagnostik, 



igi2. 



(3). Petruschky in Kolle und Wassermann's Handbuch der 



pathogenen Mikroorganismen. Bd. V. 



