576 DISEASE IN WILD MAMMALS AND BIRDS 
enclosing pockets of softening, the whole process causing 
a deforming tumefaction. While primarily developing 
in the soft parts, this streptothricosis behaves like the ray 
fungus in that it spreads not only along clefts of tissue 
but directly through muscles and organs and even bones. 
Rarefying osteitis with irregular attempt at repair in the 
form of productive periostitis may be found in both infec- 
tions. There is however a greater tendency to ulceration 
and general disease in the marsupial form, variations 
which seem referable to secondary invaders. When how- 
ever the massive tumorous, necrotic and ulcerative char- 
acters of this streptothrix disease are insignificant or 
absent, the pathology is modified to the extent of obvious 
bacterial mixed infection, there then being catarrhal and 
fibrinous inflammations vdth. degenerations of the viscera. 
Bacteriology. 
Since the pathology varies with the bacteriology as 
seen at this laboratory, it is well to pause at this time 
in a discussion of the former subject to introduce a brief 
statement of our findings in the latter, leaving however a 
full description thereof for later paragraphs. It is rela- 
tively easy to find in smears from necrotic masses threads 
of streptothrix, straight or curved with heavj^ blunt, but 
not bulbous, ends and never branched. Similar forms may 
be found in the necrotic tissue, both free in the softened 
area and near the margin of the healthy tissue, as irregu- 
lar colonies growing in a tangled mass from the edge of 
which radiating threads may be seen. It has not been 
possible to find a " ray " growth with anything like the 
regularity so characteristic of the actinomyces nor do 
the ends present the bulb distinctive of that organism. 
Branching has been found once only, it being very un- 
common in tissues although beautifully developed in cul- 
tures. While not especially sought, cocci and bacilli have 
not been seen, by Gram stains, mthin or immediately 
around the streptothrix colonies. Surrounding the myce- 
