38 



THP; BACTERIAL FLOllA OF HACIIITIO STOOLS, 



acidophilus; and although it is not claimed that the analysis of 

 the bacterial flora of the stools, as given in this paper, gives a 

 true indication of all the kinds of bacteria present, yet they are 

 more representative than the enumeration of a number of 

 bacteria originally present in infinitesimal proportions and 

 isolated after enrichment in special fluid media. Preliminary 

 experiment had shown that the growths on MacConkey's and' 

 Endo's agar were very similar to that obtained on nutrient agar 

 or gelatin, while the special media enabled a count to Ije more 

 easily made. The comparison between the media will be seen 

 under D.S. (p. 42). 



Another thing that was brought out in some preliminaiy 

 experiments was, that, to have any clear idea of the flora of the 

 stools, it woidd be necessary to count the various colonies upon 

 the plates. It appeared to bs useless to indicate the kinds of 

 bacteria isolat»d without at the same time indicating the relative 

 proportions in which tliey occurred. 



Faecal Bacteria of the coli-ty^e, 

 positive to indol and nitrite tests, negative to Gram, gelatine not liquefied. 



X Positive. 



— Negative reaction. 



