ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 317 



records the following conclusions and results of bis bacterioscopic and 

 experimental examinations. (1) 7 p.c. of the samples of country milk 

 produced typical true tuberclo in the guinea-pig. (2) 8 p.c. of the 

 samples of country milk produced typical pseudo-tuberculosis (non- 

 acid-fast bacillus of pseudo-tuberculosis A. Pfeiffer). (3) 1 p.c. of 

 milk samples produced diphtheria in the guinea-pig, yielding the typical 

 true B. diphtheriae. (4) 1 p.c. of milk samples caused a chronic disease 

 (in most cases with fatal results) due to a pathogenic torula apparently 

 differing in cultural and physiological characteristics from the torula 

 (pathogenic blastomyces) obtained by Sanfelice, Plimmer, and others 

 from human cancer. (5) Out of the secretions of the cow's udder two 

 pyogenic microbes were obtained, B. diphtherioides and Streptococcus 

 radiatus (pyogenes). A description of the last three organisms is given 

 elsewhere.* 



Pseudomonas hyacinthi.f — Dr. E. F. Smith confirms Wakker's 

 statements respecting the disease of hyacinths caused by Bacterium 

 hy a cinthi, now re-named Pseudomonas. The disease is induced by wounds, 

 but the parasite also gains entrance through the flowers. The organism 

 is a rodlet with rounded ends measuring from about 0"5-l jx by about 

 1-3 fx. It is motile, the fiagellum being long and unipolar. In solid 

 and fluid media zooglcese are developed in a few days. In old cultures 

 chains and filaments are formed. Spores were not observed. The 

 colour of the growth is yellow. Gelatin is liquefied. It is aerobic, and 

 reduces methylen-blue in a few days. Indol is formed slowly in pep- 

 tonised beef-broth and in peptonised Uschinky's solution, but does not 

 produce nitrite in these solutions. The optimum temperature is 28° to 

 30°. The germ is pathogenic to hyacinths, and multiplies in the vascular 

 system, filling the vessels, especially those of the bulb, with a bright 

 yollow slime consisting of bacteria. The destructive process is slow. 



Bacterial Disease of the Turnip. — Prof. M. C. Potter J describes a 

 bacterial disease of the turnip (Brassica napus) under the name of white- 

 rot. The disease results in a softening with discoloration of the root, 

 while the leaves droop, become yellow and shrivelled. From diseased 

 plants a microbe, Pseudomonas destructans, was isolated. It is a short 

 motile rodlet 3 //. by 8 /a, with a single polar fiagellum. It is aerobic, 

 and grows well on the ordinary media. It is readily stained, but not 

 by Gram's method. It produces the following ferments : — a cytase, caus- 

 ing the swelling and softening of the cell-wall and dissolution of the 

 middle lamella ; a diastase and a peptonising ferment, producing lique- 

 faction of the gelatin. Its toxic action is shown by the formation of 

 oxalic acid, which is produced in turnip-juice, and in Pasteur's solution 

 containing cane-sugar. The residual products are always acid. During 

 fermentation there is copious evolution of carbonic acid. 



W. Carruthers and Miss A. L. Smith § describe a disease of swedes 

 which results in the formation of a cavity in the bulb, and the destruction 

 of its crown and leaves. From the diseased plants was isolated a motile 

 bacterium 0*65 /a broad and from 1 to 4tt long; cultures were obtained 



* See this Journal, ante, pp. 74-5. 

 j t U.S. Depart. Agriculture, Bull. 26, 1901, 45 pp., 1 pi. and 6 figs. 

 % Proc. Koy. Soc, lxvii. (1901) pp. 442-59 (6 figs.). 

 § Journ. of Bot, xxxix. (1901) pp. 33-6 (2 figd.). 



