R. K. S. Lim 
109 
Jn the fundus region, groups of spirochaetes may usually be seen within 
the lumen of the tubules in the middle zone of the mucosa, where the oxyntic 
cells occur most abundantly and where they frequently abut directly on the 
lumen. In sections stained with alcoholic eosin and methylene blue (vide Lim, 
1919) and in those stained with polychrome methylene blue alone, spiro¬ 
chaetes can be shown within the oxyntic cells 1 , lying either in large clear spaces, 
enclosed by a membrane or amongst the granules in the interior of the cells 
(see Plate VII, figs. 2 and 3). Deeper down in the mucosa, where there are few 
oxyntic cells, only isolated organisms are present. They are not seen in the 
interior of the central or peptic cells. 
In the pylorus proper, dense masses of spirochaetes occur at all levels of the 
mucosa, but only within the lumina. of the ducts and secretory tubules 
(Plate VII, fig. 1), which are extremely wide in this region. No spirochaetes 
are visible outside the glands, either in the mucous, submucous or muscular 
layers. 
The presence of organisms does not alter the histological appearance of 
the stomach further than has been described above. 
MORPHOLOGY. 
Measurements. The spirochaetes have been found to average in length 
from 4 to 8/x in preparations taken direct from the fresh stomach and examined 
immediately. In stained films, somewhat longer forms are sometimes met with. 
The breadth varies from 0-75 to 1/x and the thickness of the spiral, which is 
cylindrical, from 0-25 to 0-5/x. Some of the smaller spirochaetes are extremely 
slender and have a spiral thickness of less than 0-2p,. The spirals are regular, 
and closely set together, there being usually about 7 to 8 spirals in each 
spirochaete of from 5 to 6/lx. Occasionally as many as 14 spirals may be present, 
especially in the large forms. The spirochaetes are generally straight, but 
may exhibit one or more waves or curves (see Figs. 1, 3 and 5). Both extremi¬ 
ties are tapered. When compared with the organism found in the dog 2 (PI. VII. 
fig. 4), the cat spirochaete appears to be nearly of the same size (perhaps a 
little shorter), but differs in having more numerous and more regular spirals. 
Reaction to stains. The spirochaetes stain slightly with Gram, i.e. they 
are not perfectly alcohol-fast. They are readily stained by most aniline dyes, 
especially when any of the Romanowsky combinations are used. With 
Giemsa, they appear bluish, with alcoholic eosin and methylene blue, blue, 
and with polychrome methylene blue, violet or purple. For clearness of 
staining, polychrome methylene blue is undoubtedly the best, both for 
smears and sections; it should be applied for 2 to 3 minutes. The Levaditi 
method has given poor results in the author’s hands. Stained specimens of 
1 I have received an unpublished diagram from Dr Murray, drawn in 1907, showing spiro¬ 
chaetes within the oxyntic cells of the dog’s stomach. 
2 T am indebted to Prof. Ashworth for a smear preparation (and a drawing) made bv Dr J. 
Murray in 1907, from which the above comparison was made and a photograph taken. 
