BACILLUS MEGATHERIUM 



435 



the intoxication in intravenous or intraperitoneal injection. The 

 filtrate also contains a hemotoxin which dissolves red blood corpuscles. 

 Meat infected with the organism has been known to cause gastro- 

 intestinal disturbances. The bacillus if injected into the bladder 

 of an animal causes cystitis; it has also been found in man as the 

 cause of cystitis. The Bacillus proteus mirabilis is a variety of the 

 Bacillus proteus vulgaris ; it liquefies gelatin more slowly, but otherwise 

 closely resembles the proteus. The Bacillus proteus Zenkeri, another 

 variety, does not liquefy gelatin. The Bacillus proteus Zopfii, or 

 Bacterium Zopfii, has been isolated from the intestines of chickens. 



FIG. 180 



FIG. 181 



Bacillus proteus vulgaris. X 1000. 

 (Author's preparation.) 



Bacillus anthracoides, beginning spore forma- 

 tion. X 1000. (Author's preparation.) 



Bacillus Anthracoides. This organism is found in water and soil. 

 Morphologically and in cultures it very much resembles the Bacillus 

 anthracis, but it is no wise pathogenic. Its ends are a little more 

 rounded than those of the bacillus of anthrax; its growth on the 

 laboratory culture media is like that of true anthrax. Spore formation, 

 however, 'is better at room than at incubator temperature. Mice and 

 guinea-pigs can be inoculated without any evil effects. A Bacillus 

 pseudoanthracis has been described by Burri. It is somewhat like 

 the anthrax bacillus, but motile, non-pathogenic, and differing mark- 

 edly in its cultures. 



Bacillus Megatherium. This organism is found on plants and in 

 the soil and air. It is named megatherium 1 because it is a very large, 

 plump, and very sluggishly motile bacillus. It measures 10 micra and 

 more in length and is 2.5 micra thick, and generally occurs in short 

 chains. Short involution forms are frequently formed in older cultures 

 or on unfavorable media. The protoplasm of the bacillus frequently 

 appears finely granular. It forms spores, and these leave the bacillus, 



1 Megatherium is the fossil giant sloth of South America. 



