Bacillus Rhinoscleromatis, Frisch (1882). 



BHINOSCLEROMA. 



Origin. — In the tumors of rhinoscleroma, a rather rare 

 disease which occurs in Austria and Italy. Very rare in 

 this country. These growths may appear on the mucous 

 membrane of the nose or throat. 



Form. — Short, thick rods with rounded ends resembling- 

 the Priedlander's pneumobacillus and the B. ozaenae; may 

 form short threads. They are likewise surrounded by a 

 colorless capsule. These capsules, when masses of cells 

 are present, coalesce to form the so-called cells of Mikulicz. 



Motility. — It has no motion. 



Sporulation. — This has not been observed. 



Anilin dyes. — Stain readily, and show a colorless cap- 

 sule. The bacillus is not stained by Gram's method. 



Growth. — This resembles in almost every respect 

 that of the Friedlander bacillus. The colonies, stab and 

 streak cultures agree so closely. as to be scarcely distin- 

 guishable. 



Oxygen requirements. — It is a facultative anaerobe. 



Temperature. — It grows rapidly at the ordinary tem- 

 perature. The optimum is about 36-38°. 



Behavior to gelatin. — This is not liquefied. • 



Aerogenesis. — Gas is produced when grown on potato 

 at a high temperature. 



Pathogenesis. — The relation of this bacillus to rhin- 

 oscleroma has not been positively established. It has less 

 virulence than the Friedlander bacillus. It is pathogenic 

 for mice and guinea-pigs. Rabbits are less susceptible. 

 The bacilli appear in the blood in small numbers. 



Diagnosis. — The constant presence of the bacillus and 



the ease with which it can be isolated from the diseased 



tissue is of some diagnostic value. As indicated above, the 



bacteria occur usually in groups. 



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