III. On bacterium decalvans : an organism associated with the destruction of the hair in alopecia areata

Abstract

The author having in several cases of Alopecia areata found bacteria adherent to the roots of extracted hairs, subjected hairs in six selected cases to processes designed to demonstrate the existence of organisms, should they be present, in the substance of the diseased hairs. In five out of the six cases an object was observed in the hairs which he believes to be a bacterium. It was seen as a rounded or elongated spheroid, and was found frequently in pairs, the long diameter of the two spheroids forming a continuous straight line.