2 I 8 BACTERIOLOGY. 



of the fungus accompanied by the development 

 of involution - forms. Inoculations of nutrient 

 gelatine, in the form of plate-cultivations, and 

 inoculations on blood serum and nutrient agar- 

 agar were made, it is stated, with success. The 

 cultures developed on the latter in from five to six 

 days, growing best at a temperature of 33 37 C. 

 Nutrient gelatine was not liquefied. The appear- 

 ances of the cultivation were described as quite 

 characteristic ; it has at first a whitish, granular 

 appearance, followed after a few days by little 

 yellowish- red spots which coalesce in the centre, 

 and finally a whitish downy layer results with a 

 golden-red centre ; in time the periphery also 

 becomes dotted with little yellow-centred masses. 

 The fungus thus cultivated has been described as 

 corresponding on examination with the form found 

 in man and animals, and at one stage to consist 

 of thread- forms, short rods, and cocci. As a 

 result of these observations actinomyces has been 

 relegated to the bacteria, forming one of the cla- 

 dothrix group, and possibly closely allied to the 

 Streptothrix F&rsteri of Cohn. 



METHODS OF EXAMINING AND STAINING 

 ACTINOMYCKS. 



In the fresh state a little of the tissue of a tumour, or the 

 purulent detritus, may be transferred to a clean glass slide, 

 and teased out with needles. The little specks are easily 

 recognised, and can be isolated with the needles and trans- 

 ferred to a drop of glycerine upon a fresh slide. A cover- 



