508 PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS 



Specific agglutinins may be obtained in immunized animals which 

 prove absolutely the distinctness of this organism from Bacillus influ- 

 enzas. 6 In the serum of afflicted children the agglutination is too 

 irregular to be of value. 



Specific complement fixation with the serum of patients is reported 

 by Bordet and Gengou, but failed in the hands of Wollstein. 



MORAX-AXENFELD BACILLUS 



In 1896 Morax 7 described a diplo-bacillus, which he associated 

 etiologically with a type of chronic conjunctivitis to which he applied 

 the name " conjonctivite subaigue." Soon after this, a similar micro- 

 organism was found in cases corresponding to those of Morax by 

 Axenfeld. 8 The condition which these microorganisms characteris- 

 tically produce is a catarrhal conjunctivitis which usually attacks both 

 eyes. The inflammation is especially noticeable in the angles of the 

 eye, most severe at or about the caruncle. There is rarely mujch 

 swelling of the conjunctiva and hardly ever ulceration. The condition 

 runs a subacute or chronic course. Its diagnosis is easily made by 

 smear preparations of the pus which is formed with especial abun- 

 dance during the night. 



Morphology. In smear preparations from the pus, the micro- 

 organisms appear as short, thick bacilli, usually in the form of two 

 placed end to end, but not infrequently singly or in short chains. 

 Their ends are distinctly rounded, their centers slightly bulging, 

 giving the bacillus an ovoid form. They are usually about two 

 micra in length. 



They are easily stained by the usual anilin dyes, and, stained by 

 the method of Gram, are completely decolorized. 



Cultivation. The Morax-Axenfeld bacillus can be cultivated 

 only upon alkalin media containing blood or blood serum. 



It grows poorly, or not at all, at room temperature. 



Upon Loeffler's Hood serum, colonies appear after twenty-four to 

 thirty-six hours as small indentations which indicate a liquefaction 

 of the medium. Axenfeld states that eventually the entire medium 



6 Wollstein, loc. cit. 



7 Morax, Ann. de 1'inst. Pasteur, 1896. 



8 Axenfeld, Cent. f. Bakt,, xxi, 1897. 



