Bacillus Ramosus. 

 ROOT OR "WURZEL" BACILLUS. 



ORIGIN. Very common in earth; occurs also in river 

 and in spring water. 



FORM. Rather large rods, thicker than the Hay bacil- 

 lus; with slightly rounded ends. Threads are common. 



MOTILITY. It is slowly motile. 



SPORULATION. Large median spores occur. 



ANILIN DYES. It stains well. 



GROWTH. Rapid. 



Gelatin plates. The colonies present a characteristic appearance, 

 resembling- somewhat fine branching- rootlets, hence the name. At 

 first the colonies are round, dark and with bristly borders. Subse- 

 quently the colonies branch and ramify throughout the gelatin which 

 is slowly liquefied. 



Stab culture. This is also characteristic. Growth develops along- 

 the line of inoculation and from this threads penetrate or radiate into 

 the surrounding- g-elatin. The growth is more rapid at the top than in 

 the lower parts of the tube so that the appearance of an "inverted pine 

 tree " results. Later the gelatin is liquefied completely. The bacter- 

 ial growth accumulates on the bottom while the liquid above becomes 

 clear and has a thin scum on the surface. 



Streak culture. On agar it forms a grayish growth, spreading- out- 

 ward from the streak so that the appearance often is not unlike that 

 of a centipede. On potato, a slimy, whitish growth develops, which 

 is rich in spores. 



OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS. It is aerobic. 

 TEMPERATURE. It grows at ordinary temperature, and 

 .also in the incubator. 



BEHAVIOR TO GELATIN. It liquefies slowly. 

 PATHOGENESIS. It is without effect, even in very large 



doses. 



218 



