248 INFECTIVE DISEASES. 



bacillus which was found by him in the purulent bronchial secretion, 

 and, by Canon, in the blood. 



Bacillus of Influenza. — Very small rods, singly or in leptothrix 

 filaments. They stain with the aniline dyes, but not by Gram's 

 method. They are non-motile and aerobic ; they do not grow in 

 gelatine at the temperature of the room. On glycerine-agar very 

 small transparent drop-like colonies develop in about twenty-four 

 hours. In broth there is only a very scanty growth of whitish 

 particles on the surface, which subside and form a woolly deposit. 

 They are found especially in the bronchial secretion, and only in 

 cases of influenza. Canon obtained them by puncturing the finger, 



% 



/ '3 









Fig. 121. — B.vcillus oj;' Iki'LUENZ.\. 

 From a culture on gelatine, x 1000. (Itzeeott and Niemann. ) 



and allowing a few drops of the blood to fall upon the surface of 

 glycerine-agar in a Petri's dish. The organism will retain its 

 vitality for fourteen days in sputum, but is quickly detroyed by 

 drj'ing. It is said that by applying the bacillus to the nasal 

 mucous membrane in monkeys, symptoms similar to influenza were 

 produced. 



Method of Staining. 



To stain the bacilli use Neelsen's solution or Lofiler's methylene- 

 blue ; or the following method : — 



Canon's method. — Spread the blood on cover- glasses, allow them 

 to dry, immerse for five minutes in absolute alcohol, and stain in the 

 following solution : — 



