584 Spirillum of Gamaleia 



Like its related species, this micro-organism is actively motile and possesses a 

 terminal flagellum. 



Cultivation. It grows at the room temperature, as well as at 37C., in this 

 respect, as in its reaction to stains, much resembling the other two. 



Colonies. Upon gelatin plates the growth of the colonies is much more rapid 

 than that of the cholera spirillum, though slower than that of the Finkler and 

 Prior spirillum. The colonies appear as small whitish, round points, which soon 

 reach the surface of the gelatin" and commence liquefaction. By the second 

 day each is about the size of a pin's head, has a yellow color, and occupies the bot- 

 tom of a conical depression. The appearance is much like that of colonies of the 

 cholera spirillum. 



The microscope shows the colonies to be of irregular shape and coarsely granu- 

 lar, pale yellow at the edges, gradually becoming intense toward the center, and 

 at first circumscribed, but later surrounded by clear zones, resulting from the 

 liquefaction of the gelatin. These, according to the illumination, appear pale or 

 dark. The colonies differ from those of cholera in the prompt liquefaction of 

 the gelatin, the rapid growth, yellow color, irregular form, and distinct line of 

 circumscription. 



Gelatin Punctures. In gelatin punctures the growth takes place all along the 

 track of the wire, and forms a cloudy liquid which precipitates at the apex in the 

 form of a coiled mass. Upon the surface a delicate, imperfect, yellowish scum 

 forms. Liquefaction of the entire gelatin generally requires about two weeks. 



Agar-agar. Upon agar-agar this spirillum forms a thin yellowish layer which 

 spreads quickly over most of the surface. 



Bouillon. In bouillon the growth of the organism is characterized by a diffuse 

 turbidity. No gas-formation occurs in sugar-containing media. 



Potatoes. The culture upon potato is luxuriant if grown in the incubating 

 oven. It appears as a distinct yellowish, moist film, and when examined micro- 

 scopically is seen to contain beautiful long spirals. 



Metabolic Products. The organism produces no indol. 



Pathogenesis. The spirillum of Denecke is mentioned only because of its 

 morphologic resemblance to the cholera spirillum. It is not associated with any 

 human disease. Experiments, however, have shown that when the spirilla 

 are introduced into guinea-pigs whose gastric contents are alkalinized and whose 

 peristalsis is paralyzed with opium, about 20 per cent, of the animals die. 



THE SPIRILLUM OF GAMALCIA* (SPIRILLUM METCHNIKOVI) 



Resembling the cholera spirillum in morphology and vegetation, and possibly, 

 as has been suggested, a descendant of the same original stock, is a spirillum 

 which Gamaleia cultivated from the intestines of chickens affected with a disease 

 similar to chicken-cholera. 



Morphology. This spirillum is a trifle shorter and thicker than the cholera 

 spirillum. It is a little more curved, and has. similar rounded ends, It forms 

 long spirals in appropriate media, and is actively motile. Each spirillum is 

 provided with a terminal flagellum. No spores have been demonstrated. 



Staining. The organism stains easily, the ends more deeply than the center. 

 It is not stained by Gram's method. 



Cultivation, It grows well both at the temperature of the room and at that of 

 incubation. 



Colonies. The colonies upon gelatin plates have a marked resemblance to 

 those of the cholera spirillum, yet there is a difference; and as Pfeiffer says, "it is 

 comparatively easy to differentiate between a plate of pure cholera spirillum and 

 a plate of pure Spirillum metchnikovi, yet it is almost impossible to pick out 

 a few colonies of the latter if mixed upon a plate with the former." 



Frankel regards this organism as a species intermediate between the cholera and 

 the Finkler-Prior spirillum. 



The colonies upon gelatin plates appear in about twelve hours as small whitish 

 points, and rapidly develop, so that by the end of the third day large saucer-shaped 

 liquefactions resembling colonies of the Finkler-Prior spirillum occur. Thelique- 

 f action -of the gelatin is quite rapid, the resulting fluid being turbid. Usually, 

 upon a plate of Vibrio metchnikovi some colonies are present which closely 



* "Ann. de PInst. Pasteur," 1888. 



