120 



HISTORY AND CAUSE OF THE COCONUT BUD-EOT. 



SO, did any fuming take place. As a check a small drop of HCl 

 was held over a solution of ammonia which was not fuming, and 

 from the hanging drop fumes arose. 



Table XXX. — Growth of coconut cultures Nos. 1 to d and Bacillus coli on plates of 

 Kashida's medium, April 21 to 25, 1910, at 37° C. 



The reaction, although apparently sometimes not complete, is 

 characterized by the appearance of the red colonies on the medium 

 which changes from blue black to red under the influence of the bac- 

 terial secretions. The color of the colonies themselves may first be 

 blue black or a slate color, eventually becoming red if the reaction 

 takes place. There is probably an incomplete union of the litmus 

 with the other constituents of the medium, hence, the unevenness 

 of the reaction, remaining blue on part of certam colonies and becom- 

 ing red on the other part. 



The statement of Kashida as to the reaction of the drop of hydro- 

 chloric acid to the gas arising from the colonies is not clear. If the 

 drop of HCl held over the colonies fumes it is due to the formation 

 of ammonium chlorid. Why this result would not take place with 

 Bacillus typhosus, which blues litmus and presumably forms ammonia, 

 is not clear. It seems to the writer that Bacillus tyjphosus would 

 cause HCl to fume as well as Bacillus coli and more so. The latter 

 organism, it is true, forms ammonia, but only in small amounts. It 

 reddens litmus, and thus the bulk of the product is an acid. In 

 fact, the foregoing experiments showed no response to this test of 

 Kashida's when the colonies became red. When they remained blue 

 it was probably the result of a failure to produce an acid, and of the 

 positive production of an alkali. 



228 



