72 BACTEKIOLOGY OF THE EYE 



grow the Trichopliyton tonsurans on agar, on which a snow-white, 

 soft, open-meshed mycelium developed. Considering the variability 

 of the Trichophyton, we cannot yet say whether these peculiarities of 

 culture will be observed in the other cases. 



The Trichophyton grows best on yeast agar and maltose agar 

 (Sabouraud). Cultures can be obtained both from the scales at 

 the progressive margin and from the roots of the epilated hairs. 



The sub-species of Trichophyton tonsurans described by Sabouraud 

 and others are varieties which can certainly be transformed into each 

 other. According to Plaut (Kolle u. Wass., 1903, i., p. 616) they 

 resemble the varieties of favus in possessing many specific peculiarities. 

 The Trichophyton grown by Vorner and myself was of the variety 

 called Trichophyton ectothrix by Sabouraud. 



Under the heading ' Monilithrix,' affecting the eyelashes and 

 eyebrows, Treacher Collins (T. 0. S., 1898, xi., p. 1) described a 

 condition which differed from the ordinary blepharitis in the marked 

 brittleness of the hairs. It also occurred on the scalp. Most of the 

 hairs were broken short close to the skin, and could only be epilated 

 with difficulty, being so brittle. Baldness resulted, but some of the 

 hairs grew again. The condition strongly resembles trichorrhexis 

 nodosa. No distinct micro-parasitic cause for this disease was found, 

 only the inevitable cocci. (The name ' monilithrix ' refers to the 

 disease, not to the Hyphomycete.) 



In the collected literature given by Groenouw (' Handb. der Aug. von 

 Saemisch,' 2nd edition, 1903) two cases of Oriental sore (Aleppo boil, 

 Delhi boil, Biskra button, etc.) recorded by Willemin, 1854, are given. 

 A. Terson records such a case in the museum of the St. Louis Hospital 

 (loc. cit., p. 408). According to the later researches of Brocqu and Veillon, 

 this disease is perhaps a Streptothrix infection (cf. Babes, Bd. iii., p. 446, 

 Handb. von Kolle u. Wassermann) . The various cocci and bacilli 

 recorded by other authors are probably secondary. Recently many 

 observers have referred this affection to Protozoa. 



Rhinoseleroma may affect the tear ducts, the lacrymal sac, and 

 the adjacent parts of the skin (cf. Gallenga, Zentr. /. Aug., 1899, 

 S. 289). Bacteriological examinations with positive results are recorded 

 by Gallenga. His findings were typical : capsulated bacilli strongly 

 resembling the Pneumobacillus in morphology and biology, and, accord- 

 ing to de Simoni (Zentr. f. Bakt., 1900, xxv., S. 625,) certainly belonging 

 to that group. Their decolorization by Gram's method was not so con- 

 stant ; the stab-culture in gelatine had more of a grey transparency, and 

 was not so white as that of the typical Pneumobacillus. The bacilli are 



