458 FUSIFOEM ANAEEOBIC BACILLI 



The association of fusiform bacilli with a form of angina has 

 been specially recognised since the work of Vincent (1898-99); 

 and this condition often goes now under the name of " Vincent's 

 angina." He recognised two forms of the affection — (a) a 

 diphtheroid type, characterised by the formation of a firm 

 yellowish-white false membrane, very like that of diphtheria, 

 associated with only superficial ulceration ; and (b) an ulcerative 

 type, where the membrane is soft, greyish, and foul-smelling, 

 attended with ulceration and surrounding oedema. In the 



4* 



Fig. 134. — Film preparation from a case of Vincent's angina, 

 showing fusiform bacilli and spirochetes. 

 Stained 'with weak carbol-fuchsin. x 1000. 



former type fusiform bacilli are present alone ; in the latter, 

 which is distinctly the commoner, there are also spirochsetes. 

 The fusiform bacilli are thin rods measuring on the average 

 10 to 14 /a in length, and less, than 1 p in thickness ; they are 

 straight or slightly curved and are tapered at their extremities. 

 The central portion often stains less deeply than the extremities, 

 and not infrequently shows unstained points and granules 

 (Fig. 134; Plate I., Fig 4). The organisms are non-motile. 

 They stain fairly deeply with Loffier's methylene-blue or with 

 weak carbol-fuchsin. They lose the stain iu Gram' s method. 

 The spirochsetes are long delicate organisms showing several 



