272 AC TINO MYCOSIS. 



In both varieties the granules mentioned reach a rather 

 larger size than in actinomycosis. 



When the roe-like granules are examined microscopically, 

 they are found, like the actinomyces, to show in their 

 interior an abundant mass of branching filaments with 

 mycelial arrangement. There are also present at the peri- 

 phery, structures which have a resemblance to the clubs in 

 actinomyces. These structures often have an elongated 

 wedge shape, forming an outer zone to the colony, and in 

 some cases the filaments can be found to be connected 

 with them. In the black variety, in many cases, the pigment 

 is so abundant that all internal structure is obscured. In 

 some cases, however, filaments may be found as in the 

 yellow variety. In this variety the parasite would appear to 

 be in a more or less degenerated condition, and the tissue 

 round about the black masses is usually fibrous in character, 

 their presence not being associated with much softening. 



Regarding the exact relations of this organism there is 

 still doubt. Kanthack considered that it had all the 

 important characters of actinomyces and belonged to the 

 same family, though without cultures he could not state 

 definitely that the two species were identical. He also 

 considered that the parasite was of the same nature in the 

 pale and black varieties, and that probably the latter was 

 a degenerated form of the former. Boyce and Surveyor, on 

 the other hand, described the parasite as being composed of 

 long non- branching septate filaments, and regarded it as 

 belonging to the hyphomycetes or moulds. Vincent, how- 

 ever, has obtained cultures from a case of the disease 

 occurring in Tunis, and the organism obtained, though 

 resembling the actinomyces in many respects, is a distinct 

 species. Vincent gives to it the name streptothrix Madurce. 

 The chief points of difference are the following : the strepto- 

 thrix Madurae does not liquefy gelatine ; its cultures on the 

 agar media have a reddish colour ; it flourishes readily on 

 certain vegetable infusions on which the actinomyces does 

 not grow. Unlike the actinomyces again, it does not grow 

 under anaerobic conditions, and so far its inoculation on 



