294 BACTERIOLOGY OF THE EYE 



Only three direct bouillon cultures were successful from all his cultures ; the 

 filaments which he grew were very similar to diphtheria bacilli (cf. Fig. 61) : 

 inoculation under the abdominal skin of a guinea-pig caused abscess formation ; 

 intraperitoneal injection killed a mouse in eight days ; in one of the mesenteric 

 glands and in a nodule situated in the liver typical ' actinomycotic new formations ' 

 were found, with many granules, presenting the characteristic ' Drusen ' with club- 

 shaped swellings. 



In another guinea-pig subcutaneously injected the post-mortem section after two 

 and a half days showed an encapsuled abscess, in which typical ' Drusen ' with 

 clubbed ends were seen. Awerbach is doubtful about the diagnosis of Leptothrix in 

 Hirschberg's case, and rightly considers that it was one of ray-fungus infection. 

 But when Awerbach considers all such cases as ' actinomycosis,' he could only be 

 justified were he to use the term as a family name ; it is incorrect to speak of the 

 ' ray-fungus ' as one particular organism. 



Zur Nedden's first case only yielded anaerobic cultures at first in 

 peptone-glycerine-agar ; later, however, it grew in other media, and, 

 after repeated transferences, also in aerobic cultures. 



The morphological appearances resembled those of Axenfeld's 

 Case II. Branching occurred, but no club-shaped bodies. On sub- 

 cutaneous or intraperitoneal injection it was not pathogenic for 

 animals. Under the conjunctiva small nodules developed, in which 

 the organisms continued for a long time. Zur Nedden prefers the 

 general term Strcptothrix, for the reasons already given. 



In a second case the mould grew aerobically, as a thick brown scum 

 on agar, resembling a culture of the Bacillus xerosis. Gelatine, milk, 

 and potatoes gave no growth at all. It was not pathogenic for 

 animals. The case was characterized clinically by a chronic lid 

 abscess, which had developed near the canaliculus. 



In one of the cases described by Morax the cultures were best 

 obtained under anaerobic conditions and on sugar media. The growth 

 consisted of white masses, slowly increasing ; they resembled Fig. 60. 

 No club-shaped bodies were seen, and the ' Bacillc filamcnteux'' branched. 

 Growth was obtained on glycerinated potatoes and in glycerine water. 

 They would not, however, grow on acid potatoes, or on carrots, on 

 which the other Strcptothriccce flourished. Morax therefore considered 

 that they were not Strcptothricc(S. 



The inoculation of animals was negative. There was an exudation 

 in the anterior chamber after the introduction of large quantities of 

 the material, but no organisms were found in it. 



To sum up, we must admit that further exact examinations by 

 means of cultures are necessary before the nature of these concretions 

 in the canaliculi can be determined. The polymorphism of this 

 organism renders its exact determination very difficult. 



It can be taken as established that several varieties of Strcptothricete 



