﻿492 MUSGRAVE AND CLEGG. 



week, but after that the margin around the inoculated area shows slight pro- 

 jections, which thicken gradually and give the growth a radiate appearance. 

 Minute colonies are found around the central growth, and these show a cross- 

 like depression, which becomes more marked as they increase in size. The growth 

 is firmly adherent to the nutrient medium at the margins, while the central 

 part is loosely attached. The color is dull white or slightly pinkish." 



"The culture is brittle and crumbles easily. It grows best at 39°. It is 

 aerobic. "In an atmosphere of hydrogen the growth is excessively slow. In this 

 respect it differs from actinomyces which grows easily in an atmosphere of 

 hydrogen." 



The organism was readily stained by aniline dyes and by Gram's 

 method. The filaments were long and slender, no septa could be dis- 

 tinguished and dichotamous division was not observed. Inoculation 

 experiments with the cultures were not made. 



Le Dantec (1894) reported eases from Africa. According to Scheube, Le 

 Dantec cultivated Staphylococci, Streptococci, and short bacilli from the truffle- 

 shaped bodies. In bouillon the bacilli grew into long filaments without ramifica- 

 tion. Cultures on solid media were only obtained by transplants from bouillon 

 and not directly from the material. All cultures gradually assumed a reddish-rust 

 color and rabbits and guinea pigs were not susceptible to infection by them. 



Hatch and Childe (1894) report a case of the black, or a combined black and 

 ochroid variety, in an African negro. The disease primarily involved the knee, 

 and subsequently extended to the abdominal wall and internal abdominal struc- 

 tures, particularly the lymphatics. The fungus failed to grow on bouillon or 

 glycerin agar. The descriptions and illustrations of this case show characteristics 

 making it probable that the disease was actinomycosis rather than mycetoma. 



Vincent (1894) reported a case of ochroid variety and cultivated a Streptothrix 

 from the lesions. The granules resembled Actinomyces, being yellowish-white in 

 color and insoluble in potash and in acetic acid; when stained by Loeffler's method 

 or by fuchsin and enlarged 400 to 500 times, they were seen to be made up of 

 filaments and mycelial debris. The peripheries of the granules showed filaments 

 of radiating types. Vincent considered the parasite to be a Streptothrix and 

 named it S. madurw. The filaments when examined under the high powers of 

 the microscope were shown to contain elements of varying size, some being so 

 small as to resemble micrococci. Scheube's abstract is so satisfactory that we 

 have quoted it, after comparing the original. 



The material used by Vincent for the preparation of cultures was taken by him 

 direct from the diseased tissue. "It exhibited but little growth in bouillon, but 

 infusions of hay and straw (15 grams to 1 liter) not neutralized, and therefore 

 with an acid reaction were found to be suitable nutritive media. The same holds 

 good for meat soups, to which yellow turnips, carrots, and more especially potatoes 

 (20 grams to 1 liter) have been added, after previous filtration and sterilization. 

 The temperature should be about 37° C; if it is over 40°, growth stops. The 

 cultures, which are placed in wide tubes or Ehrlenmeyer's flasks, to which air 

 is accessible, exhibit small, gray flakes, round or flat, on the fourth or fifth 

 day; these cling to the Avail and bottom of the tube, and after from twenty to 

 thirty days attain the dimensions of a small pea. Some of the flakes exhibit 

 a brown tinge in the center, while others that lie near the surface of the liquid 

 become pink or red after a month or two. The nutritive fluid never becomes 

 cloudy, for most of the flakes lie at the bottom, where they form a covering 

 which exceeds 0.5 to 1 centimeter in thickness. The nutritive fluid, previously 

 acid, in time assumes an alkaline reaction, and becomes pale-blue. 



