224 



BACTERIA 



ical bacilli are not found, it is well to look for the streptothrix by 

 staining with Gram's stain. 



RAY FUNGUS 



Actinomyces Bovis. 



Ray Fungus. 



Morphology and Stains. This organism is called the ray fungus 

 because of the stellate arrangement of its threads in the colonies 



FIG. 68. Actinomyces bovis. (Williams..) 



found in tissues. It is of a more complex structure than the bac- 

 teria hitherto described. There are three elements found in every 

 colony: (i) long thread which may be branched or unbranched; 



(2) threads that are clubbed, which may, or may not, be branched; 



(3) spore-like bodies contained within the thread, which seem to 

 arise by breaking up of the threads. The colonies in tissues are 

 often i mm. in diameter, and made up of many clubbed-shaped 



