MADURA DISEASE. 449 



mycelial fungus could be seen. If tissue, containing particles, was 

 washed for about a minute in eau de Javel and then stained, the 

 colouring matter was removed, and the relation of the fungus to 

 the tissue could be observed. This f ungu^ consisted of large radiating 

 and branched hyphse, like those of a species of aspergillus, or mucor. 

 Sections of the white, fish-roe bodies showed, usually in the centre, 

 numerous, small, reniform, deeply-stained masses, surrounded by 

 a radiated zone, with the presence of dwarfed club-like elements 

 resembling actinomyces. 



The author suggested that possibly the presence of the coarser 

 septate mycelium of the black variety might be attributed to a 

 mixed infection. 



Vincent in Algiers succeeded in cultivating the micro-organism, 

 and showed that it was a new species of streptothrix. 



Streptothrix madurse. — Vincent found that the streptothrix 

 at first grows scantily in the ordinary culture media, and in such 

 Uquids as Cohn's solution. In broth, at the end of about a fortnight, 

 there is a limited growth composed of small, round, greyish masses, 

 and in sub-cultures the growth becomes more abundant. 



The little colonies float in the clear liquid when the tube is 

 shaken, and subside to the bottom when the liquid is at rest, while 

 some adhere to the sides of the tube. They may be very small, or 

 attain the size of a pea ; after two months they acquire- a reddish 

 tinge. Later, on the surface of the liquid, there is a white efflores- 

 cence composed of spores. 



The streptothrix grows well in slightly acid infusions of hay or 

 straw, the proportion of hay to water being 15 grammes to the 

 litre. Vegetable infusions, made with carrots, turnips, and potatoes 

 (20 grammes to 1,000 of water), are suitable media. The 

 streptothrix grows at the temperature of the room, but best at 37° C. 

 and with free access to air. Inoculated in the depth of gelatine there 

 is a scanty growth in the track of the needle and on the surface ; 

 but it grows best in a nutrient medium, composed of infusion of 

 hay or potato 100 cc, gelatine 9 grammes, glycerine 4 grammes, 

 and grape-sugar 4 grammes. Gelatine is not liquefied. 



Ordinary nutrient agar is not a very favourable medium, but 

 on glycerine -agar with grape-sugar there is an abundant growth of 

 circular, projecting, shining colonies, slightly yellowish-white, which 

 later become pink or bright red. When the colonies are numerous 

 they remain small, but isolated colonies increase rapidly ; they are 

 depressed in the centre or umbiHcated, and the central part remains 

 white while the periphery becomes red. Later, the culture loses its 



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