The gram stain shows a wider appearance of the bacillus in the gram positive (dark blue) areas due to cell wall staining. In the gram negative regions (red) the bacilli appear artifactually thinner due to absence of cell wall staining. Neutrophils are sparse surrounding the organisms.

 The photomicrograph of affected dura matter, of a meningitis case, (Hematoxylin and Eosin stain) demonstrates the capsule surrounding the organisms as well as their square-ended "box car" morphology.