THE PHILIPPINE 



Journal of Science 



B. Tropical Medicine 



Vol. XII MAY, 1917 No. 3 



THE VARYING MORPHOLOGY OF BACILLUS LEPR/E AND THE 



ROUTINE MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF NASAL 



MUCUS IN LEPERS ^ 



By John A. Johnston 

 (From the Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila) 



ONE PLATE 



In the microscopical examination of several thousand lepers 

 during the past three years I have been very forcibly impressed 

 by the varying morphological appearances presented by the 

 organism in question. In view of these observations an attempt 

 has been made to classify the forms seen into four groups. 



1. Classical type. 



2. Fragmentary (degenerative) type: 



(a) Coarse granules. 

 (6) Fine granules. 



3. Solid type: 



(a) Long form. 



(b) Short form. 



4. Nocardial or streptothrical type. 



The first group corresponds to the description of the organism 

 as usually given in the standard textbooks (Plate I, fig. c). In 

 my experience this is most frequently found in comparatively 

 recent lesions, either of the nodular or macular type. However, 

 it may be found occasionally in the site of old lesions which have 

 undergone a retrogressive process, either naturally or during 

 the administration of chaulmoogra oil, and after the period of 

 abeyance has again become active. 



The fragmentary type (Plate I, fig. d) is easily seen in recent 

 lesions, although it is nearly always presented in bacteriological 



' Received for publication April, 1917. 

 149174 115 



