I9I2] 



'Anna W. Williams 



531 



TABLE I. 



Data indicating the cause and source of the ropy infection 



TABLE 2. 



Additional data pertaining to the cause and source of the ropy infection. 



Culture 



Results 



Gelatin plate. 

 Gelatin stab. 

 Agar streak. 



Transparent, ropy growth, turning medium yellowish-green, and causing 



complete liquefaction. 

 Growth practically in visible, liquefaction napiform, taking place in 10 



days at room temperature. 

 Transparent growth^. 



Discussion of the results. The hanging drop study, accompanied 

 by the cultural characteristics, show the cause of the rope to be a 

 Short, sluggishly motile, rod-bacillus, apparently the B. mesentericus 

 vulgatus (Flügge) obtained by previous investigators.^' ^ 



The results in Table i and in the inoculated bread-sticks show 

 that the bacillus is found in the flour. The results also show that 

 both warmth and moisture are necessary for its growth, and that 



*Watkins: Ropiness in flour and bread, and its detection and prevention; 

 Jour. Sog. Chem. Indus., 1906, xxv, pp. 353-354- 



*Lafar: Handbuch der technischen Mykologie, 1908, ii, pp. 521, 522. 



