Chondroitinase synthesized by an oral microaerophilic diphtheroid bacillus is capable of eliciting the spreading factor phenomenon in connective tissue in the same manner as bacterial and testicular hyaluronidase. This was shown by the spread of intradermally injected India ink and by the accumulation of intravenously injected Evans blue in areas of skin receiving chondroitinase and hyaluronidase.