ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICKOSCOPY, ETC. 605 



shows a disappearance of albuminoid matters, an increase in alkalinity 

 and in oxidising power, and considers that these conditions are favom-- 

 able to the production of homogeneous cultures, and that the growth of 

 B. mesentericus in meat broth produces a decomposition of albuminoid 

 matters, some of the derivatives of which increase the alkalinity and 

 oxidising properties of the medium. 



Coccus anomalus.* — P. Maze and P. Pacottet have examined a 

 number of wines of Champagne affected with " maladie du bleu " from 

 which they have isolated the Coccus anomalus, and to the development 

 of which organism they attributed the cause of the disease. The same 

 organism has been isolated from many other varieties of wine. 



New Species of Streptothrix.f — B,. Caminiti has isolated a strep- 

 tothrix from the air. Colonies in hanging-drop showed thick granular 

 darker centres, with smoother, thinner and paler peripheries with 

 irregular circumference, from which and from the surface of the colony 

 numerous threads were projected, the colonies consisting of netted and 

 branched threads ; these stained by analine dyes, by Ziehl's carbol- 

 fuchsin, and by Gram's method, In old cultures the colonies consist of 

 masses and chains of granules and rods lying among a few threads, and 

 resulting from the fragmentation of threads. In broth, it formed white 

 colonies like small powder puffs, some depositing and others forming 

 surface pellicle, the medium remaining unclouded. Growth occurs on 

 gelatin after ;j-4 days, the medium being slowly liquefied. The most 

 vigorous growth is obtained on glycerin-agar. Growth on milk is slow 

 and on the surface, and usually of a dark green colour ; the reaction of 

 the milk is amphoteric. Growth on potato is vigorous and quick,^ 

 forming white to yellow or greenish, sometimes pink, colonies, which 

 unite into an irregular expansion. It is a potential anaerobe. It is 

 pathogenic for laboratory animals. The author gives a general account 

 and classification of the Streptothrix group. 



Protozoon-like Organism in Human Saliva. | — Y. Ellermann 

 found in the saliva of nine out of thirteen individuals a small round 

 organism 20-?>Q) /x, in diameter, and possessing an irregular, often 

 rotatory movement which was most active at 20° C. They were only 

 observed in fresh saliva, and if this was kept in a dish until the following 

 day, no organisms were to be seen. The organism consisted of two parts 

 that varied in relative proportion, the one being dark and refractile, the 

 other pale and resembhng a vacuole. In contrast to cocci these 

 organisms are usually solitary, and not grouped in pairs or clumps. 

 Oval forms with refractile substance at either end were met with, and 

 suggested a process of division. Neither flagella nor cilia were observ- 

 able by the staining methods employed. The author considers that 

 these organisms must be regarded as Protozoa. 



Two Anaerobic Streptococci.§ — H. Graf and W. Wittneben describe 

 two streptococci isolated anaerobically, the one from a cutaneous abscess 

 that suggested actinomycosis, the other from an abscess in the brain. 



* C.R. Sec. Biol. Paris, Ixii. (1907) p. 141. 



t Centralbl. Bakt., Ite Abt. Orig.. xliv. (1907) p. 193. 



X Tom. cit., p. 160. * Lancet, 1907, ii., p. 97. 



