12 BROOMALL : BACILLUS PRODIGIOSUS. 



developed once more a vigorous growth when reinoculated on 

 fresh bread. 



As stated, milk makes a natural culture medium for 

 Bacillus prodigiosus, and causes the phenomenon of " bloody 

 milk " sometimes met with. Some experiments of the writer 

 indicate that the bacillus grows better in sterilized milk than 

 in raw milk, but this is probably because contaminating bac- 

 teria are killed off previous to inoculation. Successful cul- 

 tures have also been made in fermentation tubes charged with 

 dextrose bouillon. It was found that the liquid in the tubes 

 became strongly red, giving after filtration through ordinary 

 paper filters a clear red solution. Little or no gas was formed 

 in the tubes, showing that Bacillus prodigiosus was not one of 

 the ' ' gas producers. ' ' 



