1002 THE HIGHER BACTERIA, MOLDS AND FUNGI 



seen strung out in filaments, and mixed with them hyphae of thicker 

 elongated elements with irregular contours. Within the diseased 

 hairs are filaments, sometimes of cubical, sometimes of elongated 

 elements. They differ from those found in the hairs of ringworm, 

 chiefly in that cells of different sizes and forms are found in the 

 same case. 



The isolation of the achorion is rendered difficult by its frequent ass'ocia- 

 tion in lesions with pyogenic cocci and molds. It develops slowly on agar 

 and the growth attains a maximum diameter of 2 to 3 cm. in three to four 

 weeks. It forms a remarkably tough brownish membrane with deep irregular 

 folds the general outline being rounded upward toward the center. The 





FIG. 115. ACHORION SCHOENLEINI (Eight Weeks Culture on Sabouraud's Test 

 Medium ^ Natural Size. Hopkins.) 



surface is waxy at first and later shows a whitish powdery duvet. In most 

 strains however after long cultivation on artificial media subcultures grow 

 more rapidly, attain a larger size and become covered with a white velvety 

 layer of aerial hyphae (pleomorphism). On gelatin a small surface growth 

 quickly fluidifies the entire tube but the achorion utilizes sugars slightly if 

 at all. 



Microscopically the growth is made up of crooked hyphae of 

 irregular contour often made up of chains of oval cells. Pear- 

 shaped conidia may be found scattered on the sides of the more 

 delicate filaments but never in clusters. Chlamydospores are always 

 numerous sometimes attached singly to the clubbed tips of hyphae 

 but more often occurring in chains in their course. These chains 

 may be knotted into a small nodular mass. 



About the periphery of a culture are numerous clubs either pear- 

 shaped or notched at the tip. These may occur singly (tetes de 

 clous) or in clusters (chandeliers fa viques). 



Inoculation of fragments of scutula into the skin of guinea-pigs 



