298 



MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



Mallein is a product obtained from an old glycerin-bouillon 

 culture of the Bacillus mallei. The cultures are placed in a 

 steam sterilizer for several hours, and are filtered through un- 

 glazed portion. The filtrate contains the products of the growth 

 of the Bacillus mallei and is of much the same character as 

 tubercuHn. Injected into animals suspected of having glanders, 

 if it produces a local and febrile reaction, the existence of glan- 

 ders is indicated. This reaction is of use in the diagnosis of the 



disease in lower animals, 

 especially in horses, where 

 it has been largely em- 

 ployed, though it some- 

 times fails. An aggluti- 

 nation reaction has been 

 described for the bacillus 

 of glanders. 



Actinomyces bovis* 

 (Streptothrix actinomyces ; 

 Ray-fungus of Actinomy- 

 cosis). — The morphology 

 of this organism is quite 

 different from that of 

 most of the bacteria. It 

 is sometimes considered to 

 be a bacterium of a higher type. The organism appears in 

 the form of threads which show genuine branching. These 

 threads make radiating, interlacing masses. Their external 

 ends are swollen and bulbous under certain conditions. 

 Colonies formed in this manner, seen under moderate mag- 

 nification, have a radiating appearance which has given rise to 

 the name, ray-fungus. The club-shaped external ends are 

 readily distinguished and the growth possesses a very distinc- 



FlG. 



-RAY-rt)NGus OF Actinomyco- 

 sis. Fresh, Unstained Prepara- 

 tion FROM A Case of Lump-jaw in 

 A Cow. (Diagrammatic.) 



* Hektoen. Philadelphia Monthly Medical Journal. November, 1899. 

 Ewing. Bulletin Johns Hopkins Hospital. November, 1902. 



