278 CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY. 



Pseudo-tuberculosis due to more highly organized vegetable 

 parasites likewise occurs preferably in animals. Various 

 kinds of streptothrices and aspergilli act as the etiologic 

 factors under these conditions, particularly aspergillus 

 glaucus and fumigatus. Pigeons frequently succumb to a 

 form of miliary pseudo-tuberculosis, in which the aspergil- 

 lus fumigatus is found inclosed within giant-cells in the in- 

 terior of the granulations. In individuals engaged in the 

 fattening of pigeons pulmonary affections have been ob- 

 served apparently dependent upon the same microbes ; at 

 least the aspergillus fumigatus has been found in the spu- 

 tum of such patients. It is assumed that the parasite 

 adheres to the grain used in feeding the pigeons. 



Eppinger has observed in, and cultivated from, a case 

 of pseudo-tuberculosis a variety of streptothrix that he 

 designates cladothrix asteroides. With pure cultures of 

 this organism he succeeded in inducing the same disease in. 

 animals. (See Actinomycosis.) 



LEPROSY. 



The bacillus of leprosy was discovered by Armauer 

 Hansen. It has thus far not been successfully cultivated. 

 In morphologic appearance the bacilli closely resemble 

 tubercle-bacilli. Often, they appear somewhat shorter, 

 and, like these, they are nonmotile. With regard to tingi- 

 bility, the bacilli of leprosy occupy a position midway be- 

 tween tubercle-bacilli and other bacteria. As a rule, they 

 prove susceptible only to the methods of staining that are 

 applicable to tubercle-bacilli. They stain and decolorize 

 somewhat more readily, however, than tubercle-bacilli, and 

 they can be stained also by simple aqueous solutions 

 of aniline dyes, especially violet and fuchsin, at room- 

 temperature (Baumgarten). They can be stained, further, 

 by Gram's method. 



In the leprous new-formations (leprous nodules) the 

 leprosy-bacilli lie mainly within the tissue-cells, in the so- 

 called leprosy-cells. They have been found in the blood 

 only during the febrile periods. 



E. Levy has cultivated from a case of leprosy a bacte- 

 rium that in glycerin-agar cultures bears some resemblance 

 to the bacillus of mammalian tuberculosis, but that after 



