CHAPTER LIV. 

 TREPONEMA PALLIDUM. 



Introduction. 



Section I. Experimental inoculation, p. 721. 

 Experiments on immunization, p. 724. 

 Section II. Morphology, p. 725. 



1. Microscopical appearance, p. 725. 2. Staining methods, p. 726. 

 Section III. Detection and identification of the treponema, p. 732. 



1. CoUection of material, p. 732. 2. Methods of examination, p. 733. 3. Identi- 

 fication of the organism, p. 734. 

 Section IV. Cultivation experiments, p. 736. 

 Section V. Serum diagnosis, p. 737. 



The nature of Wassermann's reaction, p. 738. Wassermann's technique, p. 739. 

 Chemical methods, p. 740. 



THE infecting agent in syphilis is a spirochsete. Though the organism had 

 been previously observed by Bordet and Gengou, Schaudinn and Hoffmann 

 in 1905 were the first to describe it, and to them is due the credit of definitely 

 identifying it with the disease. 



Nomenclature. The name given to the organism by Hoffmann was Spirochceta 

 pallida. But the spirochsete of syphilis differs so considerably from the other 

 spirochsetes (vide infra) as to constitute a definite genus and Vuillemin suggested 

 the name Spironema. This name had, however, been already appropriated and 

 was abandoned in favour of Treponema. Treponema pallidum is now accepted by 

 all authors. 



The relationship of the treponema pallidum to syphilis. Of the specific 

 nature of the Treponema pallidum there can now be no longer any doubt. 

 Though it has been cultivated outside the body [only very recently], the 

 pathogenic role of the treponema is adequately attested by the following facts : 

 it has been found- by observers in all parts of the world in the lesions of the 

 primary and secondary stages ; it is constantly present in the lesions of con- 

 genital syphilis ; it is found in the blood of persons suffering from syphilis ; 

 and it is never found either in healthy persons or in persons suffering from 

 diseases other than syphilis. 



Distribution of the parasite in the tissues. 1. In man, the Treponema pallidum is 

 present in the hard chancre (Hoffmann and Schaudinn, Metchnikoff and Roux and 

 others) and can be found in practically every case : Ravaut and Le Sourd, for 

 instance, were able to demonstrate it in 17 out of 19 cases. It is also found in the 

 enlarged glands associated with the chancre (Hoffmann and Schaudinn and others). 



2. The treponema occurs also in the lesions of secondary syphilis : it is to be 

 found in the mucous patches and papules, psoriasis palmaris, etc. (Schaudinn and 

 Hoffmann, Roux and Metchnikoff, and others) : and in sections of the rose spots 



