100 ESSENTIALS OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



Syphilis Bacillus of Lustgarten (Smegma Bacillus of Alvarey 

 and Tavel). Lustgarten in 1885, through a certain staining 

 process, found peculiar bacilli in syphilitic tissues which he 

 thought had a direct connection with the disease. 



In the same year Alvarey and Tavel and Matterstock found 

 a similar bacillus reacting in the same way to Lustgarten's color 

 method in normal secretions, especially in the smegma of the 

 prepuce. 



The question yet remains an open one, what relation the 

 syphilis or the smegma bacillus bears to syphilis, and will 

 remain so until the bacillus can be cultivated, which so far has 

 not been accomplished. 



Origin. In the cells of syphilitic tissue, in the secretion of 

 syphilitic ulcers, and in the smegma of the prepuce and vulva. 



Form. Small slender rods similar in appearance to tubercle 

 bacilli, sometimes swelled at the ends and curved S-shaped. 



Colorless oval spaces also present, which Lustgarten calls 

 spores. 



Growth. As before mentioned, they have not yet been culti- 

 vated. 



Staining. Lustgarten's method : 



1. Aniline water gentian violet, 12 to 24 hours, and then 2 

 hours longer in brood oven. 



2. Rinsed in alcohol. 2 to 3 minutes. 



3. Aqueous solution potass, permang. (1 per cent.). 10 

 seconds. 



4. Aqueous solution of sulphuric acid. 2 seconds. 



5. Aq. destil. to wash. 



Numbers three, four, and five repeated, until the section is 

 colorless. Then alcohol, oil of cloves, and Canada balsam as 

 usual. 



De GuieomVs method :< 



1. Aniline water fuchsin. 24 hours. 



2. Rinse in dilute tr. ferri chlor. sol. 



3. Decolorize in concentrated tr. ferri chlor. 



4. Wash in alcohol, oil of cloves, Canada balsam, etc. 



For cover-glass preparations, wash in water instead of alcohol. 

 Tubercle and lepra bacilli are colored by this method also, 

 but syphilis bacilli become decolorized if washed with acids. 

 Pathogenesis. No pathological actions have yet been definitely 



