A NEW PHOSPHORESCING ORGANISM. 181 



A NEW PHOSPHOKESCING ORGANISM. 



n.' N. TORREY. 



Tlie literature upon the subject of light-producing or phosphorescing 

 bacteria includes about thirty organisms, nearly all of which are of sea 

 origin and live in salt water. In inland phosphorescence the cause is 

 more often found to belong to the moulds, rather than to bacteria. This 

 is the case in the well-known fox or punk fire met with on old stumps 

 and decajing roots. Considerable interest, therefore, is attached to the 

 detection of phosphorescing bacteria which, with some degree of cer- 

 tainty, can be said to be of inland origin. One, and only one, instance 

 of this kind has come under observation in the Hygienic Laboratory, 

 although more or less effort has been expended in searching for such 

 organisms. 



In this case the phosphorescence was observed on some boiled pota- 

 toes which had been kept for some days in an ice-box. The material was 

 brought to the laboratory by Dr. Gomberg, and from it the organism 

 under consideration was isolated hj Dr. Nov3% at whose suggestion I 

 have undertaken the study of its chief characteristics. It may be stated 

 that there was no evidence of contamination from salt water fish or 

 meat. I'urthermore, the cultural and morphological characteristics 

 served to differentiate it sharply from any of the known members of 

 this group. 



The organism was someAvhat pleomorphic, the same preparation show- 

 ing bacilli which were four or five times as long as wide, and at the 

 same time typical vibrios, which may be said to be- the predominating 

 type. They resembled to some extent the comma bacillus, but at no time 

 were spirals found. Short threads, consisting of three and four cells, 

 were common, and involution forms were also met with. 



The organism was not motile, but the Brownian movement was pro- 

 nounced and was characterized by a peculiar whirling motion. 



It stained readily with the ordinary anilin dyes, but not by Gram's 

 method. No spores were observed. 



The growth was moderately rapid, as is seen in the fact that the colo- 

 nies on gelatin plates deyeloped at room temperature for twelve hours, 

 were visible under the low power of the microscope. 



The surface colonies were grayish and round, with regular outlines; 

 comparatively small, measuring from one-half to one millinieter in diam- 

 eter. The contents were finely granular, showing a dark center, which 

 was surrounded by a lighter zone. The deep colonies Avere very small 

 and round. In the early stage they were homogeneous in appearance, 

 but later became somewhat granular. 



In gelatin stab cultures the growth was limited to the line of inocula- 

 tion, while on the surface there was no tendency to spread. It con- 

 sisted of very minute, isolated, rounded colonies, which were more abun- 

 dant in the upper portion of the tube. 



The streak cultures, on inclined gelatin, were especially characteristic. 



