STREPTOTHRIX MADURA. 225 



appear in the intestines or in any of the abdominal viscera, 

 especially the liver. 



Direct transmission from cattle to man has not been demon- 

 strated. 



Diagnosis : The microscopic diagnosis is readily made by 

 examining the little sulphur-colored granules contained in the 

 discharge from the lesion in the jaw ; or by excising a portion 

 of the tumor and either making sections of the tissue or 

 crushing a small piece between two glass slides. 



Streptothrix Madurae; Mycetoma or Madura Foot. 



This disease is peculiar to certain parts of India and very 

 closely resembles actinomycosis. So far as the pathology of 

 the two conditions is concerned, it is practically identical. 



Many investigators are of the opinion that the Streptothrix 

 found in the lesions of mycetoma is identical with Streptothrix 

 actinomyces. 



Mycetoma affects usually only one foot, less frequently both, 

 and very rarely the hand, shoulder, or hip. It invariably 

 follows an injury, such as is caused by stepping on a nail, 

 piece of wood, or a thorn. Small nodules or tubercles are 

 formed, which later attain a considerable size, break down, 

 and discharge freely. The discharge is either purulent or 

 seropurulent, and contains small pinkish granules, Streptothrix 

 madurae. 



Vincent succeeded in cultivating this organism on acid 

 vegetable infusions, which are apparently most suited for its 

 growth. It is a strong anaerobe. A surface growth develops 

 on liquid media. It is white at first, but soon changes to a 

 faint red. On solid media small round colorless colonies are 

 formed which do not coalesce. Very old colonies are perfectly 

 white. The growth clings to the medium like the actinomyces. 

 In bouillon the growth is very peculiar. It gradually settles 

 to the bottom of the tube and has the appearance of a small 

 white powder-puff ball. 



The growth on potato is very meagre unless the potato has 

 an acid reaction. A heavy white dry woolly membrane is 

 formed which never changes color. 



The stained specimen very closely resembles the actino- 



15 Bact. 



