MOUSE FAVUS* 
By JOHN HILL ABRAM, M.D., M.R.C.P., Assistant Physician, Roval Infirmary ; 
Senior Demonstrator of Pathology, University College Liverpool 
From the Pathological Laboratory, University College Liverpool. 
Plate XII 
In the spring of 1897 a Mouse was sent to the lahoratory for examination. It was stated 
that all the Mice caught in a local sugar refinery were in a similar condition to the one we 
received. On examination a thick greyish crust was obvious, extending from the mouth 
backwards over the cheek on to the trunk. 
I had considerable difficulty in obtaining pure cultivations, but eventually succeeded by 
adopting Kral's method. A portion of the crust was rubbed down with sterilized sand in a 
sterilized mortar, the resulting mixture distributed in melted agar, and plates made in the usual 
manner. 
In this way pyogenic cocci were isolated, and an organism which iiad the following 
cultural characteristics : — 
Gelatine at 21° C. - - Growth slow, with gradual liquefaction. 
Agar at 37° C. - - Growth fairl}' rapid. The centre is occupied b}' a dense mass^ 
which does not penetrate deeply into medium ; the margin 
shows an abundant feathery outgrowth. After some days the 
centre of the growth becomes pink and eventually deep red. 
Tartaric acid agar - - Growth more rapid than on agar. Less marginal growth, but 
marked superficial gro\\-th of low, thick, white aerial hypha\ 
Red colouration also m.ore marked. 
Tartaric acid potato - - Fair growth. Surface covered with dense growth, pure white 
in colour. The growth has an appearance exact])' resembling 
the icing on a cake. 
Examination of the feathery marginal growth shows a thickl)- growing branching 
mycelium, with rounded swellings in the course and at the ends of the h)'phre. No special 
fructification organs can be made out. 
Inoculations upon Mice and Rats produced typical favus growths. Inoculation on a Hen 
failed. 
NicOLAiER, in Flugge's laboratory, has investigated a similar condition, and isolated a 
fungus which gave cultures in all respects similar to mine. Inoculations also gave identical results. 
I have made cultivations on similar media of a stock human favus organism, obtained from 
the favus of Man, with the result that after repeated inoculations upon the tartaric acid media, 
the growth became almost identical with that of the mouse favus organism. 
* From the 'Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology.' 
