496 



BACILLI IN CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



smegma bacilli found under the prepuce of healthy persons are identical 

 with the bacilli found by Lustgarten and others in sections of tissues involved 

 'in syphilomata. In the absence of pure cultures and inoculation experiments 

 it is impossible to establish identity, however similar may be the characters 

 referred to. Several well-known pathogenic bacilli resemble quite as closely 

 in these particulars other bacilli which have, nevertheless, been differentiated 

 from them by culture and inoculation experiments. We may mention 

 especially in this connection the bacillus of diphtheria, as obtained from the 

 pseudo-membranous exudation in a genuine case of this disease, and the 

 pseudo diphtheria bacilli found by Roux and Yersinin the fauces of healthy 

 children. On the other hand, since it has been shown that similar bacilli 

 are common in preputial srnegma, we cannot attach great importance to the 

 finding of Lustgarten's bacillus in primary syphilitic sores ; and it has not 

 been found in sufficient numbers, or with sufficient constancy, by those who 

 have searched for it subsequently to the publication of Lustgarten's inves- 

 tigations, to give strong support to the view that it is the specific infectious 

 agent in syphilis. Baumgarten, who has searched in vain for Lustgarten's 

 bacillus in uncomplicated visceral syphilomata, suggests that the bacilli 

 found occasionally in such lesions were perhaps tubercle bacilli and repre- 

 sented a mixed infection. As the bacillus under consideration has not been 

 obtained in cultures, we have no information as to its biological characters 

 and pathogenesis. 



BACILLUS OF RHINOSCLEROMA. 



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

 rhinoscleroma. Cultivated by Paltauf a'nd 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 ulceratiori 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. 126. Bacillus of rhinoscleroma iii lymphatic vessels of the superficial part of tumor. 

 x 1,200. (Cornil 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 Friedlander's 



