BACTERIAL CELLULAR SUBSTANCE 55 



a nucleoprotein from the pest bacillus. From the effect 

 of methylene blue on this bacillus and its microscopic 

 appearance after extraction, they conclude that the alkali 

 removes the nuclein without destruction of the cell mem- 

 brane. Our studies do not indicate the existence of a mem- 

 brane in any bacterial cells. Galeotti 1 extracted an organ- 

 ism similar to bacillus ranicidus with 1 per cent, potassium 

 hydroxide, and obtained a protein body containing from 

 11.99 to 12.21 per cent, of nitrogen and from 0.94 to 1.16 

 per cent, of phosphorus, and which he believed to be a 

 nucleoprotein. The percentage of phosphorus increased 

 after several reprecipitations. 



Aronson 2 extracted the diphtheria bacillus with from 

 one-tenth to one-fifth normal alkali in the cold, at 100 

 and at 130, precipitated these extracts, first with acetic 

 acid, then with acidulated alcohol, sometimes with alcohol 

 to which ether and a little acetic acid had been added. 

 The precipitate with acid furnished a white powder, giving 

 the biuret, xanthoproteic, and Adamkiewicz reactions. 

 Xanthin bases, a pentose, and an albumin were found 

 among its decomposition products, thus proving the presence 

 of a nucleoprotein. On the addition of alcohol to this 

 acid filtrate, a new precipitate was formed, and this on 

 purification yielded nucleic acid, from which xanthin 

 bases, a pentose, and a phosphate were obtained. Blandin 3 

 obtained a nuclein and a nucleo-albumin from typhoid 

 cultures, but these may have come from constituents of 

 the medium or from the bacterial cells. Klebs 4 concluded 

 that nuclein makes up a large part of the tubercle bacillus. 

 He extracted the bacilli with ether and benzol, digested 

 with hydrochloric acid and pepsin and dissolved the residue 

 in alkali. By precipitating the alkaline extract with alcohol, 

 he obtained a nuclein containing from 8 to 9 per cent, of 

 phosphorus. Hahn 5 rubbed moist tubercle bacilli with 



1 Zeitsch. f. physiol. Chem., 1898, xxv, 48. 



2 Arch. f. Kinderhcilkunde, 1900, xxx, 23. 



3 La Riforma Medica, April 17, 1901. 



4 Centralbl. f. BakterioL, 1896, xx, 488. 



5 Munch, med. Woch., 1897, xliv, 1344. 



