662 THE PARASITIC HYPOMYCETES 



VI. DISCOMYCES ASTEROIDES (Eppinger). 



Syn. Oospora aster aides (Sauvageau and Radais), Nocardia aster Mes 

 (Trevisan), Streptothrix aster Mes (Gedoelst). 



This organism was originally found by Eppinger in pure culture in the pus 

 of a cerebral abscess in a person who had died of cerebro-spinal meningitis. 

 The same observer has since found the parasite several times in conditions 

 clinically resembling tuberculosis. Almquist also discovered what was 

 apparently the same parasite in pus from a case of meningitis : Schabad, 

 and MacCallum, have published similar observations. 



Experimental inoculation. Discomyces asteroldes is pathogenic for rabbits 

 and guinea-pigs. After inoculation the animals die of a pseudo-tuberculous 

 condition and the parasite is found in large numbers in the tubercles. 



Microscopical appearance. Discomyces asterdldes occurs in pus as branched 

 filaments about 2/x broad. It forms no clubs. In cultures rounded or coccal 

 forms (spores) are found as well as small bacillary filaments and branched 

 forms. In old cultures the mycelial protoplasm is not homogeneous but 

 shows vacuoles, separated by cubical and rounded granulations. In 

 young cultures the filaments are frequently star-shaped hence the name 

 asteroiides. 



Discomyces astero'ides stains with basic dyes and retains the violet in Gram's 

 method ; it stains with carbol-fuchsin but is more readily decolourized than 

 the tubercle bacillus. 



Cultures. Agar containing 2 per cent, glucose is the most useful medium 

 on which to grow the parasite. The colonies are warty in appearance, white 

 at first but eventually becoming red-ochre in colour, while the surface becomes 

 wrinkled and folded. The growth on gelatin is poor : the medium is not 

 liquefied. 



VII. DISCOMYCES FORSTERI (Gedoelst). 



Syn. Oospora forsteri (Sauvageau and Radais) , Nocardia forsteri 



(Trevisan), Streptothrix forsteri (Cohn). 



Discomyces forsteri is found in the lachrymal ducts, where it forms small 

 whitish masses consisting of fine, slightly branched filaments, more or less 

 twisted and mixed with coccal forms. Attempts to grow the organism have 

 failed. 



VIII. DISCOMYCES ROSENBACHI (Kruse). 



Syn. Streptothrix rosenbachi. 



This fungus was isolated by Rosenbach from a sort of sub-acute erysipelas 

 of the finger, which he described as erysipeloid. Rosenbach infected himself 

 with the parasite and reproduced the symptoms of the condition. 



Discomyces rosenbachi occurs as very fine twisted and slightly branched 

 filaments ; it grows readily on gelatin at 20 C., forming small grey-brown 

 colonies consisting of bundles of filaments arranged around a more dense 

 centre. 



IX. DISCOMYCES MADURA. 



8301. Oospora madurw. Nocardia madurce. Streptothrix madurce Vincent. 



If one of the small nodes characteristic of the disease known as Mycetoma 

 or " Madura foot " be incised and squeezed a sanious pus exudes which con- 

 tains small, yellowish-white grains, resembling the grains of actinomycosis. 



