SYPHILIS. 411 



The sections are then placed for a few minutes in absolute alcohol, 

 and from this transferred to a 1-5 per cent, solution of permanganate of 

 potash. After ten minutes they are immersed for a moment in a pure 

 concentrated solution of sulphurous acid. If the section is not completely 

 decolorised, immersion in the alcohol and in the acid bath must be 

 repeated three or four times. The sections are finally dehydrated with 

 absolute alcohol, cleared with clove-oil, and mounted in Canada balsam. 



By this method the bacillus is distinguished from many bacteria, but 

 not from the bacilli of tubercle and leprosy which are stained by this 

 process. 



Method of De Giacomi : 



Cover-glass preparations are stained with hot solution of fuchsine 

 containing a few drops of perchloride of iron. They are then decolorised 

 in strong perchloride of iron, and after-stained with vesuvin or Bismarck- 

 brown. 



Method of Doutrelepont and Schiltz : 



Sections are stained in a weak aqueous solution of gentian-violet and 

 after-stained with safraniu. 



The nature of the contagium in syphilis is unknown. 



Protective Inoculation. Inoculation of the virus, or syphilisa- 

 tion, as a protective measure, was at one time practised and strongly 

 advocated ; but it is rightly regarded in this country as dangerous 

 and unjustifiable. From the experiments of Bicord it would appear 

 that the local results in the vesicular stage resemble the results of 

 the inoculation of virulent vaccinogenic grease or horse- pox. The 

 inoculation goes through the stages of papule, vesicle, ulcer, scab, 

 and scar. The accidental inoculation which occurs in cases of 

 vaccino-syphilis may so closely resemble the results of inoculation 

 with very virulent cow-pox, that it is sometimes difficult to decide 

 as to the exact nature of these cases. 



RHIXOSCLEROMA. 



Rhinoscleroina is a rare disease, resembling lupus, and pro- 

 ducing in the nostrils and neighbouring parts nodular swellings, 

 composed of granulation-tissue. The disease is met with in 

 America, Egypt, Austria, and Italy. There are no giant cells, but 

 peculiar large cells, which were first described by Mikulicz. Frisch 

 discovered bacteria in sections, and Cornil and Alvarez pointed out 

 the existence of a capsule. In morphology and cultivation they 

 resemble, according to Dittrich, Friedlander's pneumococcus. They 

 are probably identical with this micro-organism, and Paltauf and 

 Eiselsberg, and others, found that they produced septicaemia in rabbits 

 and guinea-pigs. 



Bacterium of Rhinoscleroma (Bcudttus of Rhinosderama, 



