BY R. GREIG SMITH. 753 



from lactose in an agar medium. Mic. pyogenes y albus and 

 Bacterium III., both of which reddened litmus, were also separ- 

 ated. 



In preparing the medium for Pake's method sodium formate is 

 employed. This salt could not be obtained in Sydney, so it was 

 prepared by distilling glycerine with oxalic acid, neutralising 

 with sodium hydrate and recrystallising. Fermentation took 

 place in all the tubes which contained the equivalent of amounts 

 of water varying from 80 to 1600 c.c. Plates prepared from all 

 the tubes showed the constant presence of a gelatine-liquefying 

 bacterium, Bact. cloacce, while a second non-liquefying organism, 

 which proved to be Bact coli commune, occurred only in the 

 largest quantity. 



In reviewing the various methods for the separation of Bact. 

 coli commune, the most serviceable appear to be Pake's and 

 Parietti's. The easier method is undoubtedly the latter, and a 

 ratio of 8 drops (equivalent to - 22 c.c.) to 10 c.c. of bouillon and 

 suspension appears to be the best for the purpose. Bact. coli com- 

 mune was found in the Sydney water when quantities of 800 c.c. 

 and upwards were employed, and when the water had a tem- 

 perature of 22° C. It is to be noted, however, that the 

 organisms have a low vitality, since they cannot withstand over 

 9 drops of Parietti's solution per 10 c.c, and also they succumb 

 to carbolised meat-extract at 42°. I have separated Bact. coli 

 commune from faeces with 12 drops per 10 c.c, and the 

 separated organisms grew in carbolised meat-extract at 42°. The 

 •low vitality of the water coli is undoubtedly due to a prolonged 

 existence in the water. 



The cultural characters of the organisms which were isolated 

 and which have not already been described in the first paper 

 are described in the following paragraphs. 



Micrococcus pyogenes y albus, Rosenbach. 



A non-motile coccus occurs in groups; the individuals measure 

 0-6-0 -7 fi and are not decolorised when treated by the Gram method. 

 On the gelatine plate the colonies grow as white points, which, 



