454 MUSGRAVE, CLEGG, AND POLK. 



the identity of S. freeri with this species and it is probable that several of tlie 

 varieties described in the literature also must be classified with it. ]ts 

 characteristics may be summarized as follows: 



Morphologically a variety of forms exist varying from small, oval, coccus and 

 bacillus-like bodies, to long branching filaments, depending upon the lesion or the 

 age of the culture and the media used. In tissues the branching filaments are 

 not seen by the ordinary method of staining, the growth occurring as a skein 

 of thread-like filaments and with colony formation. The threads present a 

 beaded appearance by using Gram-Weigert's stain. In cultures portions of the 

 filaments are acid-fast by the Ziehl-Neelsen-Gabbett method, and they are also 

 Gram positive. The entire mass from experimental lesions is often acid-fast. 



Culturally the species is a facultative aerobe and grows on the majority of 

 media. Growth becomes apparent on ordinary agar after two days, consisting 

 of a smooth, adherent membrane which at first is porcelain-white, later it develops 

 a delicate, orange-pink color. The medium remains moist and is not colored in 

 its depth. 



Glycerine-agar, after about three days, shows a growth consisting of small, 

 whitish colonies, which gradually develop a delicate pink color. Later, as the 

 colonies progress, they become umbilicated and coalesce, forming a heaped-up 

 growth and producing a bright, orange color. The medium becomes slightly 

 darkened. 



On potato the growth appears after about four days as a granular layer, at 

 first white, later becoming yellowish and gradually assuming a brick-red color. 

 As the colonies develop they become umbilicated then coalesce and finally produce 

 a moist, meal-like growth on the surface of the medium. The colonies can be 

 lifted in heaps from the medium by the platinum loop, and when immersed in 

 salt solution or distilled water readily disintegrate into fine, flat particles which 

 float on the surface. 



In bouillon growth appears after 48 hours in the form of small, flat particles, 

 which at first are white, but later assume an orange tint on the surface of 

 the medium. As growth progresses, the colonies coalesce and produce a membrane 

 on the surface of the liquid. Portions of this membrane fall to the bottom of 

 the tube. 



In ascitic fluid a very slight growth occurs after six day's incubation. 



Litmus-milk shows growth on the surface of the medium in the form of fine, 

 white particles which in time becomes pink in color. A film is gradually formed 

 on the surface of the milk, which is neither coagulated nor changed in color. 



Pathogenicity : The three cultures of this species, including the two strains 

 from Foulerton as well as our own, are pathogenic for monkeys, producing on 

 inoculation characteristic progressive lesions. (See animal experiments.) Typ- 

 ical Madura foot may be produced by inoculation into the feet of monkeys. 

 Subcutaneous inoculation produces abscess-like pockets, containing a thick, viscid 

 pus in which the colonies of the organism may be observed as small, white 

 granules. Intra-abdominal inoculation results in tubercle-like formations with 

 adhesions, breaking down of tissue with abscess and sinus formation. Granules 

 made up of the colonies are present in the abscess contents. 



No. 10. 8. caprce. A study of this species from the culture sent us by Fouler- 

 ton confirms in general the findings of Silberschmidt and of Foulerton. It shows 

 characteristics which differentiate it specifically from any of the others with 

 which we have worked. 



Morphologically this organism more closely resembles the bacteria than the 

 others and in its action on monkeys it also resembles the tubercle bacillus quite 

 closely. The filaments show true branching without club formation and they 

 are shorter than with most of the other species. Bacillus- and coccus-like forms 



