X. -NOTES ON ANTARCTIC BACTERIOLOGY. 



By J. H. HARVEY PIRIE, B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.Ed., Surgeon and Geologist 

 to the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition. 



EXTENSIVE bacteriological investigations did not come into the programme of 

 work undertaken on the Scotia, but, considering the paucity of bacteriological 

 observations in the Antarctic regions, it seems desirable to publish those made, 

 the more so, since, comparatively few as they are, they are in some respects 

 different from those made by some of the other recent Antarctic expeditions ; in 

 others, complementary. 



The outfit at my disposal consisted of a supply of nutrient agar and gelatine tubes 

 many of the latter of which, unfortunately, were ruined in the passage through the 

 tropics, a small steam steriliser, a small incubator, and minor accessories. Materials 

 were also taken for the manufacture of media, but, although it was found quite 

 practicable to make up those media, for instance, employed for the cultivation of 

 denitrifying organisms, and simple gelatine media, it was found almost impossible to 

 make agar media on board, owing to the constant contamination with moulds. This 

 difficulty with moulds has been the experience of all who have attempted bacteriological 

 work at sea : every time a tube or flask is opened mould is liable to get in, and many 

 of one's cultures and stock media are ruined. Not only this, but the majority of the 

 films which I made, as the work was being carried on, to bring home for staining, were 

 spoilt by mould. I would advise anyone, therefore, attempting such work on a future 

 occasion to have, as far as possible, all media prepared before the departure of the 

 expedition, and to stain all films which it is desired to keep. No attempt was made 

 to bring home live cultures of organisms, although a number were brought back, 

 preserved with formalin vapour and sealed. Under these conditions, of course, exact 

 determinations of bacterial species are impossible. Difficulties with the incubator and 

 the necessity of economy in oil fuel led to the use, for the most part, of a warm corner 

 of the engine-room as an incubator. The irregular variations in the temperature were 

 not conducive to the best results in obtaining cultures, but, nevertheless, a number 

 did grow satisfactorily. During the eight months that the ship was frozen up at the 

 South Orkneys, bacteriological work, beyond some air observations, came to a standstill ; 

 whilst during my stay in those islands, when the Scotia went north, the most that 

 could be done was to make cultures which awaited the vessel's return for incubation. 



VOL. III. 137 18 



