BACILLI IN CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



425 



first discovered in 1888 in syphilitic vegetations, and subsequently to have 

 cultivated from the blood of syphilitic patients, in a culture medium consist- 

 ing of nuclein from the spleen of persons free from syphilitic infection. 



58. BACILLUS OF RHINOSCLEROMA. 



First observed by Von Frisch (1882) in the newly formed tubercles of 

 rhinoscleroma. Cultivated by Paltauf arid Von Eiselberg (1880). 



Rhinoscleroma is a chronic affection of the skin, and especially of the 

 mucous membrane of the nares, which is characterized by the formation of 

 tubercular thickenings of the skin and tumefaction of the nasal mucous 

 membrane, followed sometimes by ulceration It prevails in Italy, Austria, 

 and to a slight extent in some parts of Germany. Pathologists generally 

 regard it as an infectious process, although this has not been proved. 



The bacilli, first described by Von Frisch, appear to be constantly present 

 in the newly formed tubercles. They are commonly found in certain large 



FIG. 128. Bacillus of rhinoscleroma in lymphatic vessels of the superficial part of tumor. 

 X 1,200. CCornil and Babes ) 



hyaline cells peculiar to the disease, and may also be observed in the lym- 

 phatic vessels or scattered about in the involved tissues. 



Morphology. Short bacilli with rounded ends, usually united in pairs, 

 and surrounded by a gelatinous capsule resembling that of Fried lander's 

 bacillus. According to Eisenberg, the bacilli are two to three times as long 

 as broad, and may ^row out into filaments. 



These bacilli stain readily with the aniline colors and by Gram's method. 

 The capsule may be demonstrated by the methods usually employed in stain- 

 ing Friedlander's bacillus, or by the following method which is especially 

 recommended by Alvarez: The excised portions of tissue involved in the dis- 

 ease are placed for twenty-four hours in a one-per-cent solution of osmic 

 acid and then in absolute alcohol. When properly hardened thin sections 

 are made; these are stained in a hot solution of aniline- water-methyl-violet 

 for a few minutes, and then decolorized, by Gram's method, in iodine so- 

 lution. 



Biological Characters. An aerobic, non-motile, non-liquefying bacillus 

 (facultative anaerobic ?). 



In gelatin stick cultures the growth resembles that of Friedlander's ba- 

 cillus i.e., a nail-like growth, consistingof densely crowded, opaque colonies 

 along the line of puncture, and a heaped-up, white, glistening mass upon the 

 surface, hemispherical in form and viscous in consistence. Upon gelatin 

 plates yellowish-white, spherical colonies are developed within two or three 

 days, which under the microscope are seen to be granular. Upon potato a 

 cream-like growth occurs along the line of inoculation, which is white or 

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