LEPROSY (BACILLUS LEPRAE) 



In the tissues of patients suffering from tubercular 

 Leprosy Hansen, in 1874, discovered a bacillus 

 which, from its constant relation to the lesions and 

 the large numbers in which it occurred in the diseased 

 tissues, was, with probability, regarded as the cause 

 of the disease. The same bacillus was subsequently 

 discovered, but in very much smaller numbers, in the 

 affected nerves and maculae of cases of anaesthetic 

 leprosy. 



The bacillus found in the leprotic tissues closely 

 resembles the tubercle bacillus, and is an immobile, 

 fine, rod-shaped organism, 3-5 fx in length, reacting 

 to stains as does the B. Tuberculosis, and showing 

 the same beaded appearance. It is said to differ 

 from the tubercle bacillus in that it is longer, 

 straighter, stained more easily, and by methods 

 which leave the tubercle bacillus unstained, and in 

 that it resists decolorisation even more strongly 

 than this latter bacillus. It also shows more irregu- 



