i4,-12 PURE CULTURE STUDY OF BACTERIA 



whether one says "Bacillus coll Migula" or '''Escherichia coli (Migula) 

 Castellani and Chalmers", it is entirely clear what species is intended. 



Naming a new species: When it proves impossible to identify a 

 culture with any species described in the literature, it is often desirable 

 to publish a description of it as a new species. When publishing such 

 a description, there are five important points to be kept in mind: 

 (1) The description should be based on at least six representative 

 isolations of the organism. (2) If variations are found to occur 

 among these strains, a critical study must be made to be sure that 

 they are not the result of contamination. (3) In naming any charac- 

 teristic of the species, especially if it is a negative character (e.g. 

 "nitrates not reduced"), the technic by which it is determined must 

 be stated. (4) Before giving the results of any test as positive or 

 negative, comparisons must be made with a control culture known 

 to be positive and one known to be negative. (5) Before actually 

 assigning a name one should consult a specialist in bacterial taxonomy, 

 both as to the necessity for a new name and as to the validity of the 

 name selected. The Board of Editor-Trustees of Bergey's Manual, 

 for example, are always very glad to offer such advice. 



If these hints were followed by all who are trying to identify species 

 or to publish descriptions of them, much of the confusion in bacterial 

 nomenclature would be eliminated. 



REFERENCES 



Harding, H. A. 1910. The constancy of certain physiological characters in the 

 classification of bacteria. N. Y. Agric. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bui. 13. 



Committee on Descriptive Chart. 1918. Methods of Pure Culture Study. Jour. 

 Bact.. 3, 115-128. 



Committee ON Descriptive Chart. 1919. Methods of Pure Culture Study. Progress 

 report for 1918. J. Bact. 4, 107-132. 



C0.MMITTEE ON Descriptive Chart. 1920 a. Methods of Pure Culture Study. Re- 

 vised. J. Bact. 5, 127-U3. 



Committee on Descriptive Chart. 1920 b. Progress report for 1919. J. Bact. 

 5, 315-319. 



Committee on Bacteriological Technic. 1921. Progress report for 1920. J. 

 Bact. 6, 13.5-141. 



Committee on Bacteriological Technic. 1922 a. An investigation of .\merican 

 Stains. J. Bact. 7, 127-248. 



Committee on Bacteriological Technic. 1922 b. Methods of Pure Culture 

 Study. J. Bact. 7, 519-528. 



Committee on Bacteriological Technic. 1922 c. An investigation of American 

 gentian violets. J. Bact. 7, 529-536. 



Frobisher, M. 1933. Some pitfalls in bacteriology. J. Bact. 25, 565-71. 



