444 FUSIFORM ANAEROBIC BACILLI 



FUSIFORM ANAEROBIC BACILLI PATHOGENIC TO MAN. 



Babes in 1884 described organisms of this type in a 

 diphtheria-like affection of the fauces, and since that time the 

 presence of similar organisms has been noted in necrotic inflam- 

 mations, ulcerative stomatitis, noma, and like affections. The 

 association of fusiform bacilli with a form of angina has been 

 specially recognised since the work of Vincent (1898-99); and 

 this condition often goes now under the name of "Vincent's 

 angina." He recognised two forms of the affection (a) a 

 diphtheroid type characterised by the formation of a firm 

 yellowish-white false membrane, very like that of diphtheria, 

 associated with only superficial ulceration ; and (b) an ulcerative 

 type where the membrane is soft, greyish, and foul-smelling, 

 attended with ulceration and surrounding oedema. In the 

 former type fusiform bacilli are present alone; in the latter, 

 which is distinctly the commoner, there are also spirochsetes. 

 The fusiform bacilli are thin rods measuring on the average 

 10 to 14 /x in length, and less than 1 /x in thickness ; they are 

 straight or slightly curved and are tapered at their extremities. 

 The central portion often stains less deeply than the extremities, 

 and not infrequently shows unstained points (Plate I., Fig. 4). 

 The organisms are non-motile. They stain fairly deeply with 

 Loffler's methylene-blue or with weak carbol-fuchsin. They 

 lose the stain in Gram's method. The spirochsetes are long 

 delicate organisms showing several irregular curves, and are 

 motile ; in appearance they resemble the spirochsete refringens 

 and similar organisms found in gangrenous conditions. They 

 stain less deeply than the bacilli. Sometimes they are numerous, 

 sometimes scanty ; they seem to be similar to spirochsetse found 

 in the mouth in a variety of other conditions. In a section 

 through the false membrane, when stained with methylene or 

 thionin blue, there is usually to be seen a darkly stained band, 

 a short distance below the surface, which is due to the presence 

 of large masses of the fusiform bacilli closely packed together ; 

 neither they nor the spirochsetes appear to pass deeply into the 

 tissues. Vincent's results have been confirmed by others, and 

 there is no doubt that fusiform bacilli, of which there are 

 probably several species, are associated with various spreading 

 necrotic conditions. Cultures of fusiform bacilli have been 

 obtained by E Hermann and by Weaver and Tunnicliffe. They 

 grow only under anaerobic conditions, and the best media are 

 those consisting of a mixture of serum or blood and agar (1 : 3). 

 The organisms form small rounded colonies of whitish or 



