496 



MICRO-ORGANISMS AND DISEASE [CHAr. 



the culture tube ; the liquefied gelatine is limpid, thick like 

 syrup and of a brownish colour. When a part ot the 

 growth is examined under the microscope, having been 

 pjreviously stained, then well separated and teased out with 

 needles, it is seen to be composed of a delicate mycelium 



Fig. 199. — From a teased-out specimen of the .actinomyces gro\\th on sugar 

 gelatine. 



of fine threads, some uniform, others containing within the 

 sheath granules, rods, and cylinders (sec Fig. 199). 



An important fact established by Israel, Bostrom, Rotter, 

 and others is this, that the ray fungus of man can by in- 

 oculation produce typical actinomycosis in cattle, and there 

 is therefore the greatest probability that the inverse also 

 holds good. 



