FUSIFORM ANAEROBIC BACILLI 445 



yellowish colour, somewhat like those of a streptococcus, but 

 rather felted in appearance on the surface. Injections of pure 

 cultures in animals sometimes produce suppuration but never 

 necrosis (Ellermann). Tunnicliffe finds that the spirochaetes 

 are only stages in the development of fusiform bacilli, as cultures 

 which at an early stage show only fusiform bacilli afterwards 

 contain spirochsetes, and intermediate forms can be found. These 

 results, however, have not yet been confirmed. It is also to be 

 noted that fusiform bacilli are sometimes present in the secretions 

 of the mouth in normal conditions, and may occur in increased 

 numbers in true diphtheria. 



