MALIGNANT (EDEMA 447 



peculiar heavy, but not putrid, odour. The bacillus, which was 

 obtained in pure culture, was present in enormous numbers in 

 the affected tissues, attended by cellular necrosis, serous 

 exudation, and at places much leucocytic emigration. The 

 picture, in short, corresponded with that seen on inoculating a 

 guinea-pig with a pure culture. The term " malignant oedema " 

 should be limited in its application to cases in which the 



\ 



FIG. 130. Film preparation from the affected tissues in a case of 

 malignant oedema in the human subject, showing the spore-bearing 

 bacilli. 



Gentian-violet, x 1000. 



bacillus in question is present. In most of these there is a 

 mixed infection ; in some the bacillus may be present alone. 



This organism has a very widespread distribution in nature, 

 being present in garden soil, dung, and various putrefying 

 animal fluids ; and it is by contamination of lacerated wounds 

 by such substances that the disease is usually set up in the 

 human subject, in horses and cattle. In the last an infection of 

 the puerperal uterus has been observed. Malignant oedema can 

 be readily produced by inoculating susceptible animals, such as 



