352 PA THOGENIC BA CTERTA . 



This method undergoes a modification in the hands of 

 De Giacomi, who prefers to stain the cover-glasses in hot 

 anilin-water-fuchsin solution for a few moments, sections 

 in the same solution cold for twenty-four hours ; then 

 immerse them first in a weak, then in a strong, solution 

 of chlorid of iron. The cover-glasses are washed in 

 water, sections in alcohol, and subsequently passed 

 through the usual reagents for dehydration and clearing. 



Fig. 75. — Bacillus of syphilis (Lustgarten), from a condyloma; x 1000 (Itzerott 



and Niemann). 



In some syphilitic tissues these methods suffice to de- 

 fine distinct bacilli with a remarkable similarity to the 

 tubercle bacillus. The organism is about the same size 

 as the tubercle bacillus, and even more frequently curved, 

 but often presents a club-like enlargement of one 

 end (involution-form?). The bacilli very frequently 

 occur singly, though more often in groups, and never lie 

 free, but are always enclosed in cells. These bacilli are not 

 always found in syphilitic lesions, nor is their demonstra- 

 tion easy under the most favorable circumstances. Laist- 

 garten emphasizes particularly that they are only demon- 

 strable after the most painstaking technical procedures. 



The probability of the specificity of this organism was 

 considerably lessened by the observation by Matterstock, 

 Travel, and Alvarez that in preputial smegma, and also 



