294 PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 



The appearance is no doubt one of involution or degene- 

 ration. 



The fragments do not resemble spores as seen in other 

 organisms. When spores occur in the continuity of 







Fig. 65. — Tubercle bacillus in sputum (Frankel and Pfeiffer). 



bacilli, they usually occur as easily recognized discrete 

 oval refracting bodies. The fragments seen in the tubercle 

 bacillus are irregular in shape instead of oval, have ragged 



'< (r '* 



Fig. 66. — Tubercle bacilli : I, forms suggesting speculation, because of the 

 presence of large chromophylic granules ; 2, forms described as beaded ; the 

 open spaces in the fragmented rods are sometimes mistaken for spores; 3, 

 branched forms of the tubercle bacillus sometimes seen in sputum. 



surfaces, and are without the highly refracting index 

 peculiar to ordinary spores. 



The space between the bacillary fragments cannot be 



