474 C. P. FITCH AND W. A. BILLINGS 



variation is particularly marked in the heated media. In the 

 unheated broth the reactions during the thirty day period are 

 more uniform. The different strains do not show the same vari- 

 ation in the heated and unheated dulcitol media. 



Inulin broth, which was fermented with a small amount of 

 gas, shows also a very low initial acidity. Following this the 

 inulin medium gradually becomes alkaline. This is perhaps to 

 be explained in two ways. Inulin is often times impure and 

 according to Hawk often contains a reducing sugar. Also inulin 

 is hydrolyzed readily in the presence of an acid to levulose which 

 carbohydrate is fermented by Bad. abortivo-equinus with the 

 production of gas. The bubble of gas formed in melezitose may 

 be due to an impurity in the sugar as the reactions in this media 

 are similar to those in the other non fermented carbohydrates, 

 i.e., a gradually increasing alkalinity. 



It would seem that as a result of this work the following con- 

 clusions are justified. 



1. Bad. abortivo-equinus does not form gas in lactose or suc- 

 rose. The apparent fermentations of these carbohydrates are 

 often the result of hydrolysis in the sterilizing process. 



2. Bad. abortivo-equinus does not ferment raffinose. Rham- 

 nose is fermented with gas. 



3. A gradually progressive acidity up to thirty days is produced 

 by nearly all strains of Bad. abortivo-equinus in carbohydrate 

 media where considerable gas is formed. 



4. In carbohydrate broth in which no gas is formed a pro- 

 gressive alkalinity is formed over a thirty-day period. 



5. In dulcitol media Bad. abortivo-equinus shows considerable 

 variation in acidity and akalinity. This variation is found in 

 unheated as well as heated media. 



Note: Because of the necessity of economizing space it was 

 deemed advisable to condense the fifteen tables originally pre- 

 pared into one which is appended. This was done by com- 

 puting the average titration figures for the eight strains. The 

 variation in the acidity or alkalinity of the different strains was 

 not large with the exception of their action on dulcitol. If read- 

 ers desire we can furnish copies of the results obtained for each 

 organism used. 



