624 Bacillus Faecalis 



Other media and methods useful in studying the colon bacilli are 

 also discussed in the chapter upon Typhoid Fever (q.v.). 



BACILLUS ENTERITIDIS (GARTNER) 



General Characteristics. A motile, flagellated, non-sporogenous, non-chro- 

 mogenic, non-liquefying, aerogenic, aerobic and optionally anaerobic, pathogenic 

 bacillus staining by the ordinary methods, but not by Gram's method. 



This bacillus was first cultivated by A. Gartner* from the flesh of a cow 

 slaughtered because of an intestinal disease, and from the spleen of a man 

 poisoned by eating meat obtained from it. The bacillus was subsequently found 

 by Karlinski and Lubarsch in other cases of meat-poisoning. 



Morphology. The bacillus closely resembles Bacillus coli communis. It 

 is short and thick, is surrounded by a slight capsule, is actively motile, and has 

 flagella. 



Staining. It stains irregularly with the ordinary solutions, but not by Gram's 

 method. It has no spores. 



Cultivation. Upon gelatin plates it forms round, pale gray, translucent col- 

 onies. It does not liquefy the gelatin. The deep colonies are brown and spheric. 

 The growth on agar-agar is similar to that of the colon bacillus. The organism 

 produces no indol, coagulates milk in a few days, and reduces litmus. Its fer- 

 mentative powers have not been sufficiently studied, but it is known to ferment 

 dextrose media. Upon potato it forms a yellowish-white, shining layer. 



Pathogenesis. The bacillus is pathogenic for mice, guinea-pigs, pigeons, 

 lambs, and kids, but not for dogs, cats, rats, or sparrows. The infection may be 

 fatal for mice and guinea-pigs, whether given subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, 

 or by the mouth. 



Lesions. The bacilli are found scattered throughout the organs in small 

 groups, resembling those of the typhoid bacillus. 



At the autopsy a marked enteritis and swelling of the lymphatic follicles and 

 patches, with occasional hemorrhages, are found. The bacilli occur in the intes- 

 tinal contents. The spleen is somewhat enlarged. 



The bacillus is differentiated from the colon bacillus chiefly by the absence of 

 indol-production, by its ability to produce infection when ingested, and by the 

 fact that it elaborates a toxic substance capable of producing symptoms similar 

 to those seen in the infection. 



It may be distinguished from Bacillus lactis aerogenes by its motility. It 

 closely resembles certain water bacteria; but its pathogenesis can be made use of 

 for assisting in its differentiation in doubtful cases. 



V 



BACILLUS FAECALIS ALKALIGENES (PETRUSCHKY) 



General Characteristics. A motile, flagellated, non-sporogenous, non-liquefy- 

 ing, non-chromogenic, non-aerogenic, aerobic and optionally anaerobic, non- 

 pathogenic bacillus of the intestine, staining by ordinary methods, but not by 

 Gram's method. 



This bacillus has occasionally been isolated by Petruschkyf and others from 

 feces. It closely resembles the typhoid bacillus, being short, stout, with round 

 ends, forming no spores, staining with the usual dyes, but not by Gram's method, 

 being actively motile, and having numerous flagella. It does not liquefy gelatin, 

 does not coagulate milk, produce gas, or form indol. Its pathogenic powers for 

 the lower animals are similar to those of the typhoid bacillus. 



It grows more luxuriantly than the typhoid bacillus upon potato, producing a 

 brown color, and generates a strong alkali when grown in litmus-whey. Its cul- 

 tures are not agglutinated by the typhoid serums. 



"Korrespond. d. allg. arztl. Ver. von Thuring," 1888, 9. 

 t "Centralbl. f. Bakt. u. Parasitenk.," XDC, 187. 



