BACILLUS OF MALIGNANT (EDEMA. 



403 



little like the bacillus of anthrax, and was at one time 

 confounded with it, but it differs in the marked pecu- 

 liarity of being a strict anaerobe. It was first observed 

 by Pasteur, but it was not until later that Koch, Li- 

 borius, Kitt, and others, described its peculiarities in 

 detail, It can usually be observed by inserting under 

 the skin of rabbits or guinea-pigs small portions of 

 garden earth, street dust, or decomposing organic sub- 

 stances. There results a widespread oedema, with more 

 or less of gas production in the tissues. In the oedema- 

 tous fluid about the seat of inoculation the organism 

 under consideration may be detected. (Fig. 87, A.) 



FIG. 87. 



<r a 



Bacillus of malignant oedema. 



A. Bacilli in short and long threads in cedematous fluid from site of inocu- 

 lation of guinea-pig. (After KOCH.) 



B. Spore stage of the organism ; from culture. 



It is a rod of about 3 to 3.5 p. long and from 1 to 

 1.1 IJL thick, i. e., it is about as long as the bacillus 

 anthracis, but is a trifle more slender. It is usually 

 found in pairs, joined end to end, but may occur as 

 longer threads; particularly is this the case in cultures. 



