Microbic Diseases Individually Considered. 257 



to 1,000; chlorine gas, aud sulphurous acid gas, in 

 concentrated solution. 



Cultures. — Cultures are easily obtained on the dif- 

 ferent media; they require free access of atmos- 

 pheric oxygen ; 37° is the most favorable tempera- 

 ture; below 20° their growth is arrested except upon 

 glycerin-agar ; it also ceases at 43°, and the germs 

 are killed at 55°. 



Bouillons become turbid within twenty four hours 

 without presenting special characters. 



On agar and on serum it shows a bluish-white 

 translucid growth in the form of droplets, or in a 

 continuous layer which becomes opaque as it increases 

 in thickness. 



Potato is admirably adapted to the culture of the ba- 

 cillus of glanders. On this medium it forms a thick, 

 moist, glistening, viscid coating, which after a few days 

 assumes a fawn color, gradually deepening to a bright 

 chocolate. (!N'ocard.) This culture is characteristic 

 and should assist us in the diagnosis of doubtful 

 cases ; it suffices to sow a particle of the suspected 

 product, previously diluted, upon potato ; the latter 

 soon becomes covered with diverse growths among 

 which we should recognize by their peculiar color 

 those due to the glanders bacillus.* 



Research and coloration. — The bacillus mallei shows 

 little affinity for the aniline colors; it does not 

 support the Gram or Weigert stains. The methods 



* [Such simple culture tests can be of value when the suspected 

 material is obtained from a yet unopened skin nodule or from an 

 extirpated submaxillary lymph node, but will rarely assist us in 

 the examination of nasal discharge. — D.] 

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