[HARRISON] VISCOUS FERMENTATION OF MILK AND BEER 79 



The above organism constitutes what will be referred to as Group II. 



7. Bacillus lactis aerogcnes. Isolated from milk. 



8. Bacillus lactis aerogcnes. Isolated from the air of a cow stable. 



These two organisms were isolated during an investigation of 

 gas-producing bacteria found in dairies.'" 



The above two organisms constitute what will be referred to 

 as Group III. 



9. Coccoid bacillus isolated from a sample of milk sent to the writer for 



examination. 

 lU. Coccoid bacillus isolated from the throat of a chicken. 



These two organisms will be referred to as Group IV. 



11. Bacillus isolated from an epidemic of slimy milk in a dairy in the 

 vicinity of Guelph. 



Nearly all the patrons of this dairy complained of ropiness 

 of the milk supplied them. A visit was made to the farm and tho 

 location of the trouble sought for. Bacteriological examinations of 

 the foremilk of the cows, milk cans, the straining cloths, the air of the 

 milk house and the well water gave negative results. The organism 

 which produced the ropy milk, was found in large numbers in the 

 stable air, the dust from the beams in the stable, and hairs from the 

 flanks of a number of the cows. After the stable was cleaned and 

 whitewashed, and the cows washed with 1 :10UU sublimate solution, 

 the trouble disappeared, 

 lii. Bacillus isolated from a second epidemic of slimy milk in the vicinity 

 of Guelph. 



This epidemic showed similar features to the one above. The 

 stable and dairy were, however, kept in a more cleanly condition. 

 The organism was isolated from plates exposed in the stable. After 

 thoroughly cleaning and whitewashing all the walls, lloors and ceil- 

 ings, the trouble disappeared. 



These organisms are placed between Groups I and II, They were 

 identical, but since their isolation in 1899 they had been cultivated upon 

 artificial media in the laboratory and had lost their power of making 

 milk ropy or slimy. At the time of isolation, however, they produced 

 ropiness in milk and cream in S hours at 20° C. 



j\Iany attempts to bring back their viscid properties by growing 

 them in milk and transferring them very frequently from one culture 

 media to another were made, but without results. They never regained 

 their slime-producing qualities. 



As noted al)ove, «these species or varieties are divided into four 

 groups. Eepresentatives of each group behaved alike with a few unim- 

 portant exceptions, and hence may be considered as being almost identical, 

 The biological characters of Xumbers 10 ancl 11 would place them 

 between the first and second groups. 



