ACTINOMYCES 197 



not until 1878 that it was more thoroughly described by 

 Israel. The disease caused by it is known as actinomycosis. 

 E. Ullmann states, however, that the actual suppuration in 

 this disorder is due to the specific organisms of pus, viz. 

 the staphylococci and streptococci, the actinomyces fungus 

 being, according to him, merely an accidental occurrence 

 in the pus. 



The fungus forms minute sulphur-yellow nodules of the 

 size of poppy-seeds, which, if a cover-glass is lightly pressed 

 upon them and they are examined even with a very low power, 

 show compact globules having a clustered arrangement. 

 They were first discovered 

 by Bollinger in cattle, and 

 admit of being very easily 

 transmitted to human 

 beings. Under a higher 

 power they are seen to be 

 made up of filaments re- 

 sembling hyphae, which for 



the most part radiate OUt FIG. 73. AN ACTIXOMYCES GRANULE. 



UNSTAINED PHEPAKATION. (After Jaksch.) 



from a central point, each 



ray being thickened into an elongated club-shaped enlarge- 

 ment at the periphery. E. Paltauf describes the actino- 

 myces fungus as a bacterium, regarding the club-shaped 

 figures as degenerative forms ; Israel and Wolff count it 

 amongst the polymorphic fission fungi, on the grounds that 

 thread-like figures and groups of globular bodies are 

 visible in addition to the radiating forms ; Petroff and 

 Flora aim found that the fibres are made up of granules 

 alternating with small roundish gaps ; and Kabe is of 

 opinion that a certain alga, Cladothrix canis, presents a very 

 great similarity to actinomyces. The fungus takes aniline 

 stains when they are allowed to act on it for some time, 

 and does not discharge them during the application of 



