LEPROSY. 279 



staining proves resistant to neither acid nor alcohol. Micro- 

 scopically, it bears a distinct resemblance to the anaerobic 

 actinomyces. It presents bulbous enlargements and rami- 

 fications. 



Distribution of Leprosy. Leprosy, which formerly 

 was indigenous to all of Europe, is now restricted to Nor- 

 way, Livonia, Turkey, the Crimea, and Southern Italy. 

 Of late, isolated cases of the disease have again been 

 encountered in Eastern Prussia. In countries outside of 



Fig. 61. Bacilli shown in a section of the tongue in a case of tubercular leprosy ; 

 X 600. The bacilli are extracellular: , Bacilli in groups; Z, Z, zooglear masses, 

 large rounded masses of bacilli ; C, bacilli in chains (Leloir). 



Europe leprosy is quite common. The small number of 

 cases that are observed in other places may be explained 

 by importation from leprous localities. The disappearance 

 of leprosy is undoubtedly to be attributed to the isolation 

 formerly practised with barbaric severity of those 

 affected in special leprosy-houses (leproseries). From this 

 disappearance of the disease it may be concluded that it is 

 contagious, but this has not been demonstrated with cer- 

 tainty, and is doubted by some physicians. 



Experiments on Animals. The experimental develop- 



