BACILLUS OF MALIGNANT (EDEMA 449 



formation of vesicles on the skin. These changes were 

 attended with a reddish discoloration, afterwards becoming livid. 

 Emphysema was not recognisable until the very tense limb was 

 incised, when it was detected, though in small degree. Further, 

 the tissues had a peculiar heavy, but not putrid, odour. The 

 bacillus, which was obtained in pure culture, was present in 

 enormous numbers in the affected tissues, attended by'cellular 



s 



V 



*. 6 



Fig. 129. — Film preparation from the affected tissues in a case of 

 malignant oedema in the human subject, showing the spore-bearing 

 bacilli. 



Gentian-violet, x 1000. 



necrosis and serous exudation. The picture, in short, corre- 

 sponded with that seen on inoculating a guinea-pig with a pure 

 culture. The term " malignant oedema " should be limited in 

 its application to cases in which the bacillus in question is 

 present. In most of these there is a mixed infection ; in some 

 the bacillus may be present alone. 



During the war the organism has been found in putrid 

 wounds and cases of gas gangrene. M'Intosh, in fact, found it 

 to be next in order of frequency to the b. welchii in gangrenous 

 29 



