DIPIITHEROID ORGANISMS 



19 



added sterile ascitic fluid in the proportions of 1 in 10. The mediums were 

 then incubated at 37 C. for 24 hours and 1 day at room temperature to test 

 for sterility. For inoculation, 48-hour cultures of the diphtheroids grown on 

 ascitic dextrose agar (0.5% dextrose) were used. Titrations were made in the 

 cold after 48 hours' incubation, using N/20 NaOH. Five c c of the broth were 

 used for titration. Instead of adding 45 c c of water and a few drops of phenol- 

 phthalein to each 5 c c of material, it was found more convenient to add phenol- 

 phthalein to a large volume of water and then to make this exactly neutral 

 by addition of a small amount of N/l NaOH, as was necessary for the water 

 used in the tests. In this way, errors due to variations in reaction of dis 

 tilled water may be avoided. This method and the procedure followed in the 

 preparation of mediums were adhered to in all titrations. 



TABLE 2 

 THE ACID-PRODUCING PROPERTIES OF DIPHTHEROIDS FOUND IN GLANDS AND TISSUES 



* B. rr Bunting strains; R. Rosenow strains. 



Diphtheroids isolated from glands and certain tissues fall into sev- 

 eral groups : ( 1 ) Those which ferment dextrose and maltose slightly ; 

 (2) those which ferment dextrose, saccharose, maltose vigorously and 

 dextrin slightly; (3) those which ferment dextrose and maltose vigor- 

 ously; (4) those which ferment dextrose and maltose vigorously and 

 dextrin slightly; (5) those which ferment lactose, maltose and raffinose 

 vigorously, and dextrin and dextrose slightly; (6) those which ferment 

 lactose and maltose slightly; (7) those which ferment none of the 

 sugars ; and (8) those which ferment dextrose, lactose and maltose 

 vigorously. That the range of fermentative powers varies widely is 



