1 4 2 



CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY AND H^EMATOLOGY 



Pour off the stain, blot gently, and pour on Gram's iodine 

 solution. Allow this to act for five minutes. Blot again. 



Decolorize with aniline oil, pouring it off and applying a 

 fresh lot from time to time. The process may take an hour 

 or more, and the specimen should be left under the micro- 

 scope and examined occasionally. 



When the decolorization is complete (i.e. t when the colour 

 is seen to be present in the fungus only), blot gently, and 

 wash thoroughly with xylol. Mount in balsam. 



The specimens are to be examined under a J-inch objective. 

 A higher power is unnecessary. 



There are certainly three, and possibly more, species of 

 ringworm which occur in England, and the fungus of favus 

 is closely allied, and is demonstrated by the same process. 



FIG. 26. MICROSPORON AUDOUINI.* 



The Microsppron Audouini is the most common species of 

 ringworm fungus in this country, being responsible for about 

 80 or 90 per cent, of all cases. It is a small-spored fungus, 

 and it may be distinguished by the fact that its spores are 

 arranged in an irregular mosaic, and not in chains. Its 

 mycelium, which consists of oblong segments, the length of 

 each of which is about three to six times as great as its thick- 

 ness, lies in the interior of the hair, whilst the spores form a 

 thick mass outside (Fig. 26, and Plate VI., Fig. 4). This 

 sheath of spores projects a short distance above the surface, 

 and may often be seen with the naked eye. The outside of 

 the hair is destroyed, and' the surface of the hair eroded; the 

 former feature serves to differentiate it from all other varieties 

 of ringworm, and from favus. 



* Fig. 26 is from Curtis's " Essentials of Bacteriology " (Longmans). 



