DIPHTHEEIA IN THE TROPICS 



247 



laid in the main to its charge. Doubtless, however, the other organism was to blame 

 to some extent and certainly it appeared to be the cause of the unpleasant septic condition 

 evidenced by the presence of the ulcers previously mentioned. 



As in such literature as one has been able to consult there is no mention of any 

 organism of this kind causing a similar lesion in the mucous membrane of the mouth 

 and fauces, it seems advisable to place on record such facts regarding its morphology, 

 cultural characteristics and pathogenic action as have been revealed on investigation. 

 Unfortunately, the latter could not be very thorough. There was the usual lack of 

 skilled help, and, like too much of the research work, it was a struggle to get even the 

 few observations made performed in a careful and satisfactory manner. At the time 

 the organism was isolated it was impossible to do more than cultivate it on several 

 media, prepare specimens and inoculate one gerbil. Captain Fry at a later period took Characters of 

 up its study after it had undergone sub-cultivation for some time. Unfortunately, he ""^ organism 

 contracted Malta fever and the work had to be abandoned. 



Morphologij. In films prepared from swabs the organism shows as a short stout rod, 

 motile and often a little thicker at the centre than at the ends which are, however, 

 more rounded than pointed. The bacillus stains readily with the ordinary aniline dyes and 

 is found to measure 2-5 /< to 3 fi in length and a little over 1 /i in breadth. Diplo- 

 bacillary forms are seen and a few short threads. No spores were noted in these 

 preparations. The general arrangement of the rods in the film rather suggested 

 B. dipMherise and this resemblance was heightened by the fact that, after staining with 



^'\V 



x 'jHA 





\ ' 



,^ 



"K*.,-.^ 





5 



^HU^^. 



f 



G. BoCHANAi; 



X 1000 diam, G. Bdchanan 



l-'i4s 71) und 80— Organisms from case of British Officer 



X 1000 <iiaii 



Gram and counter-staining with saffranin, while the majority of the rods did not retain 

 the stain, a certain proportion did, and these for the most part only in portions of their 

 length so that they presented an appearance of polar bodies or granules (Fig. 80). After 

 cultivation on agar the bacillus is found to be very pleomorphic, occurring as short, stout 

 rods, longer, thinner rods, forms like thick diplo-bacilli and long threads which suggest a 

 leptothrix. It stains readily with the ordinary aniline dyes. When stained with Gram, 

 most of the short forms are found not to retain the stain while the longer forms as a 

 rule do. The threads stain in a peculiar way, some retaining the colour throughout 

 their whole length but the majority holding it only here and there and thus presenting 

 a beaded or broken appearance. Fig. 79 perhaps gives a better idea of the appearances 



