56 REPORT OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST OF THE 
In this case, we can apply the additional test that when inocu- 
lated into sound cans the suspected germ should be able to with- 
stand the amount of heating to which the spoiled cans were orig- 
inally subjected. Accordingly sterile cans were carefully opened, 
inoculated with pure cultures of the rod form from the spoiled 
cans and resoldered. The cans were then processed at 230° F. for 
different lengths of time. 
Two Pounp Cans or Pras Heatep to 230°F. (110°C.) ar 
LABORATORY. 
BDUNIONIMUTINNUI GES Seek sess sisueSarein forsicieh 6! ein een eee eee 20 25 30 35 40 
Nocans heated * Sachisieck aoe cusses an aoe oe ee 6 6 6 6 3 
Momcams swelledan ts octocc hake oan oe Eee 5 6 1 0 0 
Bercentace swelled ys. sos hc hela othe lacntents 83 100 16 0 0 
These cans were not kept under observation after about 10 
days since at that time it was evident that this germ was capable 
of surviving a processing at 230° F. (110° C.) for 30 minutes. 
Had they been observed longer probably other cans would have 
swelled, since in later work we found that a considerable number 
of experimental cans swelled even after being kept at 80° F. 
(268° C.) for two months. 
From all this it would seem fair to conclude that the rod-like 
spore-bearing form found in the cans which had swelled at the 
factory was the cause of the swelling. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CAUSAL ORGANISM. 
Form.— The rods are 4-6 long by 1.5-1.84 wide and usually 
occur singly. 
Stain.—Rods readily take the ordinary stains but do not take the 
Gram stain. 
Spores.—The oval spores, one in a cell, are usually near the end 
of the rod. The rod swells at the point where the spore is 
to appear before the latter is visible. The ripened spore has 
a great diameter than the original rod. Spores are formed 
so freely that a culture is rarely free from them, new ones 
being formed before all of the old ones have sprouted. They 
often make up more than 50 per ct. of old cultures. 
Motility.—Y oung cultures are actively motile and even the swollen 
rods in which the spores are forming sometimes swim about. 
Hach rod is provided with several peritrichic flagella. 
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