Flora of the stomach 301 



between 25,000 and 100,000. With the exception of no. 7, a 

 yeast, these organisms were in relatively small numbers. How- 

 ever this count was reduced more than one half if the specimens 

 were allowed to stand 24 hours at room temperature. The de- 

 struction was very marked in all organisms except the one yeast. 

 This yeast not only resisted the acid of the gastric juice but 





Fig 1. Photograph of a Glucose Agar Plate. This plate was made from a 

 specimen of gastric juice diluted 1-2000 showing predominance of no. 7 by 

 characteristic nail head appearing colonies. Specimen stood for twenty-four 

 hgurs at room temperature before plating. 



thrived in it. Three chromogenic organisms were among those 

 usually found but these seemed to have no greater resistance 

 to the gastric juice than the non-chromogenic forms present. 



These findings indicate that the flora of the "empty" stomach 

 of Mr. V. is fairly constant. In clear specimens of normal acidity 



