GLANDERS BACILLUS 409 



* 



which is of a yellowish-brown tinge. The growth on cooked potato 

 is especially characteristic. At the end of twenty-four to thirty-six 

 hours at 37 C. a moist, yellow, transparent layer develops; this later 

 becomes deeper in color, and finally takes on a reddish-brown color, 

 while the potato about it acquires a greenish-yellow tint. In bouillon 

 the bacillus causes diffuse clouding, ultimately with the formation of a 

 more or less ropy, tenacious sediment. It grows on media possessing a 

 slightly acid reaction, and both with and without oxygen. Milk is 

 coagulated with the production of acid. 



Pathogenesis. The bacillus of glanders is pathogenic for a number 

 of animals. Among those which are most susceptible are horses, asses, 

 guinea-pigs, cats, dogs, ferrets, moles, and field mice; sheep, goats, 

 swine, rabbits, white mice, and house mice are much less susceptible; 

 cattle are immune. Man is susceptible, and infection not infrequently 

 terminates fatallv. 



FIG. 126 



| Glanders bacilli. Agar culture. X 1100 diameters. 



When pure cultures of the bacillus mallei are injected into horses 

 or other susceptible animals true glanders is produced. The disease 

 is characterized in the horse by the formation of ulcers upon the nasal 

 mucous membrane, which have irregular, thickened margins, and 

 secrete a thin, virulent mucus; the submaxillary lymphatic glands 

 become enlarged and form a tumor which is often lobulated; other 

 lymphatic glands become inflamed, and some of them suppurate and 

 open externally, leaving deep, open ulcers; the lungs are also involved, 

 and the breathing becomes rapid and irregular. In farcy, which is a 

 more chronic form of the disease, circumscribed swellings, varying in 

 size from a pea to a hazel-nut, appear on different parts of the body, 

 especially where the skin is thinnest; these suppurate and leave angry- 

 looking ulcers with ragged edges, from which there is an abundant 

 purulent discharge. The bacillus of glanders can easily be obtained 

 in pure cultures from the interior of suppurating nodules and glands 



