214 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 



8 GEORGE V, A. 1918 

 BEIEF SUMMAUY. 



1. Forty cans of sardines, " swelled," and " normal," have been submitted to a 

 bacteriological examination. 



2. Cottonseed oil, and the excreta of fresh herrings have been examined. 



3. From the " swelled " cans eight strains of gas-producing bacteria have been 

 isolated,— Cultures 24, 26, 32, 34, 36, 36, 37 and 64. 



4. The eight strains have been studied morphologically, biologically, and bioch- 

 emically, and have been described, pages 192-207. 



(a) Two strains. Cultures 24 and 37, liquefy gelatine, and fail to ferment 

 lactose; these are tentatively placed in the Proteus group, B. vulgaris (Hauser 

 1886), Migula 19€0. 



(&) The remaining six strains are lactose-fermenting types. I consider 

 that these include typical and a-typical types of the colon-aerogenes group 

 (Escherich) ; but for the present an individual classification is not offered. 



5. The features and reactions of the gas-producing bacteria have been summarized; 

 pages 208 and 209. 



6. Experimental "swellings", typical in every respect have been produced in the 

 laboratory on inoculation with Cultures 35, 37, and 64 respectively. The organisms 

 subsequently isolated have been proved culturally to be identical with those used for 

 inoculation ; thus satisfying the " Postulates of Koch." 



7. No bacteria have been found in the cottonseed oil. 



8. Non-gas-producing bacteria have been isolated from herring excreta, from 

 swelled cans, and from a small percentage of the normal cans examined; brief notes 

 are presented on pages 211-213. 



9. No gas producing bacteria have been isolated from normal cans of sardines. 



I desire to express my indebtedness to Dr. A. B. Macallum; to Dr. A. G. Hunts- 

 man ; to Dr. F. C. Harrison ; to the Maine Inspectors of the " National Canners' 

 Association of America " ; and to the proprietors and managers of the various canning 

 factories which were visited with their permission. 



