1 <76 Decomposition of Cdhdose 



bacteria whose deathpoint is generally very much higher. It is, therefore, 

 probably safe to assume that the formation of the sporoid stage does 

 not confer on the organism any increased resistance to high temperatures. 

 Behaviour toivards disinfectants. The susceptibility of S. cytophaga to 

 volatile antiseptics was noted in some of the early experiments. Treat- 

 ment of crude cultures with toluene or toluene vapour invariably 

 resulted in the destruction of S. cytopkaya and the persistence of con- 

 taminating sporogenous forms which, of themselves, were incapable 

 of inducing typical decomposition of cellulose. Hence, it might be 

 inferred that the power of resistance to disinfectants would be similarly 

 low, and this is brought out by experiments with phenol. The tests 

 were carried out in sodium ammonium phosphate-mineral salt solution 

 with cellulose. 



T.A.BLE XI. 

 Effect of Phenol on S. cytophaga. 



Concentration of phenol (per cent.) 



0017 0035 0070 015 0-31 1-25 



Microscopical examination of the culture with 0-008 per cent, of 

 phenol showed the presence of both the thread and sporoid forms and 

 a decided tendency to the production of highly granular filaments. 

 The organisms were evidently already suffering from the effects of the 

 phenol without, however, either of the forms being entirely suppressed. 



Destruction of cellulose, etc. Under favourable conditions as to 

 nitrogen and oxygen supply, the decomposition of filter paper, cotton 

 wool, parchment paper and gun cotton proceeds with fair rapidity and, 

 in fact, limitation of the breakdown changes frequently arises solely 

 through exhaustion of the nitrogen supply of the medium. In this 

 connection the results of two experiments may be given. In the first 

 experiment a culture was made in a 2000 c.c. Erlenmeyer flask containing 

 200 c.c. of normal solution, i.e. with 2-0 grms. sodium ammonium phos- 

 phate per litre, together with 5-0 grms. of filter paper, the absolute 

 dry weight of which was 4-66 grms. After eight days at 2-5° the culture 

 was boiled, filtered through a tared paper, washed with hot water, 

 dried and weighed. The weight of this residue was found to be 4-28 grms. 

 thus indicating a loss of 0-38 grm. of cellulose in eight days. Taking 

 into consideration the fact that there is generally no apparent growth 



