336 BACTERIOLOGY. 



from a human subject, introduced into the peri- 

 toneal cavity. 



Until quite recently actinomyces has been classed 

 as a hyphomycete, and the flask-shaped structures 

 regarded as gonidia. By certain * cultivation- 

 experiments we are led to regard the latter as a 

 result of a degenerative stage in the life-history 

 of the fungus accompanied by the development 

 of involution - forms. Inoculations of nutrient 

 gelatine, in the form of plate-cultivations, and 

 inoculations on blood serum and nutrient agar- 

 agar were made, it is stated, with success. The 

 cultures developed on the latter in from five to six 

 days, growing best at a temperature of 33 37 C. 

 Nutrient gelatine was not liquefied. The appear- 

 ances of the cultivation were described as quite 

 characteristic ; it has at first a whitish, granular 

 appearance, followed after a few days by little 

 yellowish-red spots which coalesce in the centre, 

 and finally a whitish downy layer results with a 

 golden- red centre ; in time the periphery also 

 becomes dotted with little yellow-centred masses. 

 The fungus thus cultivated has been described as 

 corresponding on examination with the form found 

 in man and animals, and at one stage to consist 

 of thread-forms, short rods, and cocci. As a 

 result of these observations actinomyces has been 

 relegated to the bacteria, forming one of the cla- 



* Bostrom, " Ueber Actinomycose," Verhandlungen des Con- 

 gresses fur Inn. Med. 1885. 



