BACILLUS DIPHTHERIsE. 331 



The bacillus of Loffler has now been conclusively proved 

 to be the cause of the disease, and its discovery in the 

 false membrane is practically universally regarded as the 

 only certain means of diagnosis. With the exception of 



, 



.'-* * 



FIG. 81. Film preparation from diphtheria membrane; showing 

 numerous diphtheria bacilli. One or two degenerated forms are seen 

 near the centre of the field. (Cultures made from the same piece of 

 membrane showed the organism to be present in practically pure 

 condition. ) 



Stained with methylene-blue. x 1000. 



the tubercle bacillus, there is probably no organism which 

 has been the subject of so much routine examination, and 

 the opinion of all who are competent to judge may be said 

 to be unanimous on this subject. 



Bacillus Diphtheria Microscopical Characters. If a 

 film preparation be made from a piece of diphtheria mem- 



