330 



VETERINARY BACTERIOLOGY 



general be easily differentiated from the tubercle bacillus, as they 

 do not produce a generalized tuberculosis when inoculated into 

 experimental animals. However, nodules resembling those of 

 tuberculosis are found as a result of the injection of some species. 

 The organisms when isolated upon culture-media, however, are 

 found to develop luxuriantly even at room-temperatures. It is 



Fig. 134. Bacillus smegmatis, in a stained smear of preputial smegma (Frankel 



and Pfeiffer). 



interesting to note that isolation of such bacteria from soil has been 

 accomplished by the use of antiformin. The differential diagnosis 

 of these forms from B. tuberculosis must always be accomplished 

 by both animal inoculation and isolation upon culture-media. 

 In making a diagnosis of tuberculosis from stained mounts the pos- 

 sible presence of these forms must constantly be borne in mind. 



