224 DEPARTMEXT OF THE XAVAL SERVICE 



8 GEORGE V, A. 1918 



any of the members of the true-Gaertner sub-group. They are also for the most part 

 non-pathogenic. They have not so far been found as a cause of disease in man or 

 in animals." 



Until I am able to secure for comparative cultural tests strains of this sub-group 

 from Dr. Savage, it would not be wise to attempt a more definite classification of the 

 organism herein discussed. In view, however, of the decided variation from the 

 Voges-Proskauer type of the colon-cerogenes group as lately given by Levine,-^ and 

 considering the many cultural features and fermentative reactions which suggest at 

 any rate a distant relationship to the para-Gaertner group, it seems not undesirable 

 to suggest that based on the cultural features and biochemical reactions this organism 

 be considered tentatively as an atypical form of the para-Gaertner group according 

 to Savage.^^ 



Cidture III. 



Morphology. — -Microscopically the organism appears as a coccus, in pairs, in masses, 

 and as short streptococci; the average diameter from a 24-hour-old agar culture 

 at 37° C. being -8 fi, stained with Kiihne's methylene blue. The organism is 

 Gram positive and non-spore-forming; capsules faintly discernible. 



Motility. — Tests for motility made in hanging drop of condensation water from a 

 young agar culture. No motility. Violent agitation can be noticed, and rotation 

 of the cells as on an axis, but the position in the drop is unchanged. 



Cultural Characteristics: — 



Agar Slope. — 24 hours at 37° C. growth scanty, bluish by transmitted light, filiform, 

 flat, with later a tendency to spreading. 



Glucose Agar Slope. — Growth moderate, heavier than on agar, discrete colonies, 

 flat, spreading, glistening. 



Tochtermann's Serum Agar Slope. — Growth scant to moderate, bluish by trans- 

 mitted light, heavy clouding of the condensation water. In 5 days slight 

 digestion of the medium noted. 



Ldeffler's Blood Serum. — Growth filiform, medium channelled and slightly darker 

 in colour. In 5 days growth glistening, yellowish, slight digestion. 



Sodium Indigo Sulphate Agar Slope. — Faint growth, no reduction of colour, 24 

 hours. In 14 days reduced to reddish brown. 



Gelatine Stab. — 21° C. In two days liquefaction beginning. In 7 days stratiform 

 liquefaction for ^ of tube, even clouding with yellowish flocculent precipitate 

 at bottom. Liquefaction complete in 1 month. 



Nutrient Broth. — 37° C. even clouding, moderate, no pellicle, no sediment; later 

 medium cleared. 



Potato. — Barely discernible growth in 24 hours. In 3 days faint growth, flat, 

 spreading, white, metallic lustre. 



Milk. — 37° C. In 36 hours weak coagulum, no gas noted. In 72 hours digestion 

 had begun, a clear lemon coloured liquid extending for ^ tube. In 7 days tube 

 half fluid, curd soft, gelatinous, bright and of a solidity resem'bling macaroni; 

 easily desintegrated on shaking; after 2 months some curd still remaining, 

 lemon yellow in colour, consistency as before. 



Litmus milk. — The reaction of the organism to this medium is unusual, and it is 

 due to the sensitiveness here discovered that I have adopted the uniform per- 

 centage of litmus, noted on page 218. If litmus be added at the rate of 1^ \:>ev 

 cent coagulation preceded by bleaching takes place within 36 to 48 hours. 

 Digestion then begins and proceeds slightly more rapidly than in the milk, 

 the contents of the tube varying in colour from a lemon yellow to claret with 

 i decided fluorescence in 72 hours. In 2 months digestion is not complete. 1-2 



cm. of a jelly-like claret coloured curd remaining. 



