166 BACTERIA IN THE SPUTA 



to fructifications to our knowledge) is to be found in the patina 

 dentaria {mate7ia alba of Leeuwenhoek) constantly, but in different 

 quantities in every mouth. It is, of course, very scarce in well- 

 cleaned teeth, because, lying on the top of the tufts, it is the 

 first to be removed by friction. The patiita dentaria exhibits large 

 and small heaps of round granules, and, on the edges, slender 

 filaments variously bent. The granules were considered as the 

 matrix of the fungus, having been taken for spores of Leptothrix. 

 The author thinks them to be either micrococci foreign to Lepto- 

 thrix^ or simply linking points of its filaments. 



The filaments are of varied length, from 0*5 to o"8 micro- 

 millemetres, sometimes twisted, usually still, and without articula- 

 tions (but this is not always exact). They generally have irregular 

 contours and appear to be badly nourished or are dead, but we 

 shall see that they contain gemmules and bear spores (ears ?). 

 In their surroundings there are also numerous shorter filaments 

 or small rods, which the author thinks might be simply fragments 

 of longer filaments, or cellules of the fungus not having yet 

 reached their full development. 



By using the solution of iodine, slightly acidulated with lactic 

 acid, under a power of 350 diameters, epithelia and clusters of 

 micrococci can be detected intermixed with them (Fig. 12 of 

 Miller), and even various forms of little rods and filaments of 

 Leptothrix lightly tinged with yellow. Other larger bacilli become 

 tinged with deep violet, and these are called by the author Jodo- 

 coccus vaginatus and Bacillus buccalis maxinius. 



The same author again speaks of the Leptothj-ix innomifiata on 

 page 203. He declares positively that it cannot be cultivated in 

 every medium. This is true, if he intends to speak of the ordinary 

 culture media, but not equally so with regard to sputa, in which 

 are to be found not only natural cultures, but even the most vigor- 

 ous fructifications of this parasite, as we shall see later on. 



Other Primary Micro-Organisms of the Mouth. 



Bacillus buccalis maximus.— This consists of isolated bacilli or 

 filaments, more frequently of bundles. The filaments of the 

 length of 30 — 50 micro-millemetres (Fig. 13 of Miller, stained 

 with the acidulated solution of iodine) are distinctly articulated. 



