BACILLUS SMEGMATIS 



THE B. Smegmatis (Fig. 35) has already been referred 

 to in speaking of the B. Tuberculosis in urine. It 

 was originally described by Alvarez and Tavel, and 

 its relation to the B. Syphilidis of Lustgarten sug- 

 gested. The bacillus resembles closely in size and 

 morphology the B. Tuberculosis, though it is some- 

 what more variable in length, and is not so definite 

 in form ; its extremities are often pointed. It is 

 found in considerable numbers, and often in heaps, 

 lying within and between the epithelial cells in the 

 smegma. In its staining reaction it resembles the 

 tubercle bacillus, but, though it resists decolorisa- 

 tion by acids and is thus differentiated from B. 

 Syphilidis, its colour is removed by the action of 

 alcohol. It has not been cultivated and is not 

 inoculable. 



