ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 241 



Classification of Lactic Acid Bacteria.*— Herr H. Weigmann makes 

 an attempt to classify lactic acid bacteria which occur in the milk industry. 

 Six groups are suggested, tha first of which has for its type Bacterium 

 acidi lactici and the second Bacillus acidi lactiri. In group 3 are placed 

 bacterid which form laevolactic acid. Group 4 consists of lactic acid 

 hacteria which liquefy gelatin. In group 5 the bacteria are chiefly 

 characterised by surface growth, aerobian), and non-production of gas. 

 In group 6 are placed bacteria which, while capable of producing lactic 

 acid, are only occasionally found in milk. 



It is suggested that some importance should be attached to the taste 

 and flavour of milk acidulated by pure cultures, and six different kinds 

 of flavour, taste, or aroma are mentioned. These differences might aid 

 in distinguishing between varieties or races in doubtful cases. 



Bacteria of the Female Genitalia.! — M. Halle describes several 

 previously unknown microbes which were isolated from the vulva, 

 vagina, &c. One of these, an unnamed aerobic bacterium, is a largish 

 rodlet, occurring either in clumps or pairs. It is not stainable by 

 Gram's method. On agar the growth is barely visible, though the 

 colonies resemble Pneumococcus. It grows better on serum, best on 

 agar ascites, badly in bouillon, and nut at all on potato. It is not patho- 

 genic. Micrococcus foetidus is an anaerobe occurring in pus as cocci or 

 diplococci, and in bouillon in short chains. It does not stain by Gram's 

 method. The cultures exhale a foetid odour. The results from inoculat- 

 ing animals were very variable ; sometimes there was no result, at others 

 there formed abscesses filled with stinking pus and containing the Micro- 

 coccus in pure cultivation. 



Bacillus fundibuliformis is a very pleomorphic organism, occurring 

 in pus as a slightly bent rodlet. In cultures similar forms are present, 

 but the size may be larger and the shape spiral, clubbed, spherical, or 

 swollen at the ends. Sometimes there are filaments, branched forms, and 

 free rodlets It is stained with very great difficulty, no method giving 

 good results. It is an essential anaerobe ; grows well in saccharated 

 ascitic fluid, and in bouillon exhales a fetid odour. Subcutaneous 

 injection was followed by suppuration and gangrene, but intravenous 

 and intraperitoneal inoculation failed. 



Bacillus nebulosus is a rodlet of variable length and size, is frequently 

 swollen in the centre, and its ends are pointed. It does not stain by 

 Gram's method. It is an essential anaerobe, and grows slowly. Its 

 pathogenic properties were found to be very variable, sometimes being 

 negative and sometimes causing suppuration or gangrene. 



Bacillus caducus is morphologically like the last bacterium, but it 

 stains by Gram's method. Its cultural characters and pathogenic pro- 

 perties were not thoroughly examined. 



Coli-like Bacterial — Dr. M. Deelemann describes some coli-like 

 bacteria which were derived from pus (3), urine (1), and faeces (1). 

 The morphological and biological characters of four of these are given 



• Centrall.]. Bakt. u. Par., 2" Abt., v. (1899) pp. 825-31, 859-70 (9 figs.), 

 t Ann. de Gynecol, et d'Obste't., li. (1899). See Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 1" Abt. v 

 xx'vi. (1899) pp. 645-9. 



X Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 1" Abt., xxvi. (1899) pp. 501-4, 541-6, 819-23(2 pis.). 



