DISTRIBUTION OF THE BACILLI. 357 



this way the membrane is firmly adherent. In the trachea, 

 on the other hand, the epithelial cells rapidly become shed, 

 and the membrane is found to consist almost exclusively of 

 fibrin with leucocytes, the former arranged in a reticulated 

 or somewhat laminated manner, and varying in density in 



FIG. 90. Section through a diphtheritic membrane in trachea, show- 

 ing diphtheria bacilli (stained darkly) in clumps, and also scattered 

 amongst the fibrin. Some streptococci are also shown, towards the 

 surface on the left side. 



Stained by Gram's method and Bismarck-brown. x 1000. 



different parts. The membrane lies upon the basement 

 membrane, and is less firmly adherent than in the case of 

 the pharynx. 



The position of the diphtheria bacilli varies somewhat in 

 different cases, but they are most frequently found lying in 

 oval or irregular clumps in the spaces between the fibrin, 



