C34 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. 



Pure cultures of the organism, which is called 

 Streptothrix madurce (Vincent), were first ob- 

 tained by Vincent in 1894, and have been studied 

 by a number of observers since that time. It bears 

 a close resemblance to the actinomyces and by some 

 is considered a variety of this organism. Differ- 

 ences between the black and white varieties are not 

 clearly set forth. The disease occurs in southern 

 Asiatic countries, in northern Africa, and in the 

 United States (rare). 



VII. INFECTIONS BY STREPTOTHRIX, CLADOTHRIX 

 AND LEPTOTHRIX. 



Cultures of streptothrix, differing from the 

 actinomyces, have been obtained from the lungs 

 in a number of instances and in various countries. 

 They have been found in such lesions as broncho- 

 pneiimonia, or more extensive consolidation of the 

 lungs, and in cases of empyema. In other instances 

 organisms which have been classed, some as strep- 

 tothrix, others as cladothrix, have been cultivated 

 from processes which resembled actinomycosis. 



Nocard considers a streptothrix as the cause of 

 farcin du bceuf (farcy of cattle), a disease encoun- 

 tered especially in the countries of southern Eu- 

 rope, and similar organisms have been cultivated 

 from suppurating or granulomatous foci in other 

 animals. 



Leptothrix luccalis, a thread-like organism 

 which does not form branches and, hence, is not an 

 actinomyces nor a streptothrix, is frequently found 

 as a saprophytic organism in the mouth cavity, and 

 a similar fungus, Leptothrix vaginalis, has been 

 encountered in the vagina. Although organisms 

 of this type are relatively harmless, they have occa- 



