270 MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



or cellulitis, in various uterine infections, including physo- 

 metra and emphysema of the uterine wall, in pneumothorax 

 and pneumoperitonitis, and in other pathological conditions 

 where gas occurs in the tissues. Exceptionally it may cause 

 pus-formation. 1 This bacillus, or the gas formed by it in 

 the organs of human cadavers, appears to have furnished 

 the basis for some of the cases in which death has been 

 ascribed to the entrance of air into the veins during life. It 

 is the same as the organism described by E. Frankel as 

 bacillus phlegmones emphysematosae. 



Bacillus edematis maligni (French, ribrion scptiquc). 

 A bacillus about I n in breadth, 2 to 10 , in length, which 

 may form threads, having rounded ends when occurring 

 singly. It is motile, having flagella at the sides and ends. 

 It forms spores, and may bulge at the center in consequence 

 of the spores lorn^ed there. It is decolorized by Gram's 

 method. It is a strict anaerobe and is best cultivated under 

 hydrogen. It grows at ordinary temperatures, but better 

 in the incubator. It liquefies gelatin and blood-serum. The 

 colonies in gelatin are spherical and appear like little 

 bubbles. It grows well upon agar. Gas may be produced 

 in these media. 



It is found in garden earth, street dirt, and in putrefying 

 organic material. It is pathogenic to rabbits, guinea-pigs, 

 mice, pigeons and various other animals, including man. 

 Inoculation results in the production of swelling and edema, 

 spreading from the point of inoculation. Gas may be pro- 

 duced in the tissue. It may lead to widespread septicemia. 



Bacillus tetani. A slim, straight bacillus, with rounded 

 ends, which may form in threads. It is slightly motile. 

 Spores form in culture-media at the end of thirty hours in 

 the incubator. The spores are located at one end, which 

 is swollen, so that in this stage the organism has the shape 



1 Welch, Philadelphia Medical Journal, August 4, 1900. 



