GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 463 



If the organisms of the type of the tubercle bacillus are to be given 

 generic recognition, Sclerothrix can be used as a generic name only if 

 it can be shown that the previous use by Kuetzing does not invalidate 

 it, and that Coccothrix (Llitz {q.v.)) is invalid, for the latter term has 

 priority. 



Seguinillus. A name proposed by Heller (1922, p. 23) for a genus 

 of Putrificoideae with the following description: 



Putrificaideae that do not exert a marked action on protein. Soften and may 

 blacken meat. Milk clotted, may later be digested. Attack a few sugars. 

 Very reluctant to form spores. Minute Gram-positive or Gram-negative rods, 

 uniform in thickness but not in length. Spores oval, sub-terminal. Deep 

 colonies lenticular or modified lenticulaz*. Occasional tissue invaders which 

 produce a proteolytic gangrene or phlegmon. 



Type species S. aerofoetidus (Bacillus aerofoetidus Weinberg and Seguin) as 

 described by Weinberg and S6guin (p. 161). The organism forms oval subter- 

 minal spores. 



Semiclostridium. A genus of bacteria proposed by Maassen (1905, 

 p. 5) with Semiclostridium commune as the type. This organism is 

 aerobic bacillus which form spores, the sporangia being of a type which 

 would place it in Fischer's Clostridiaceae. It has an unusual growth 

 temperature range, from 18° to 55°. Its optimum is about 45°, it is a 

 facultative thermophile. The organism is motile, with peritrichic 

 flagella. It peptonizes milk. In sugar solutions it forms larger gela- 

 tinous zoogloeal masses. Other species described are S. citreum, S. 

 flavum and S. ruhrum. 



This is probably to be regarded as a synonym of Bacillus. 



Serratia. The original article in which the name was proposed by 

 Bizio (1823, p. 288) for fungus genus is apparently not available in 

 America. However, the original report is reviewed by Bizio in a com- 

 munication to the Paris Academy of Sciences (1844, p. 951). He 

 states that in July 1819 in the province of Padua there was observed 

 a phenomenon of reddening of the surface of "polenta," a porridge 

 made from corn (maize) meal. In the course of eight to ten hours this 

 was covered by a substance having the color of blood. It also appeared 

 on bread and on rice kept under the same conditions. The phenomenon 

 excited so much surprise and astonishment among the natives that 

 it came to the attention of the public authorities and a commission of 

 professors from the University of Padua was appointed to investigate. 

 Bizio thought the phenomenon might be due to some fungus. He 

 placed some polenta in a saturated atmosphere at 21° Reamur. In 



