DIPHTHEROID ORGANISMS 21 



While this study was under way, a paper by Torrey appeared dealing with 

 bacteria associated with lymph nodes. He tabulated 4 distinct groups, which 

 when analyzed showed 8 different groups according to fermentation reactions. 

 One of the groups included chromogenic types, chiefly orange-red. This species 

 I have named C. aurantiacum. An anaerobic diphtheroid occurring in lymph 

 nodes was described by Torrey and named B. lymphophilus. It is slender, 

 pleomorphic, gram-positive, from 0.5 X 1.2-3.2 mikrons. It is not acid-fast, 

 occurs singly or in pairs, is nonmotile ; stab cultures in 0.5% agar show rods 

 of irregular morphology and uneven staining. On Loeffler's medium, raised 

 white growth occurs. In dextrose, high acid is produced, even to the amount 

 of 10 +. It is markedly aciduric and acidophilic. Glycerol is also fermented, 

 but lactose, mannite, inulin and dextrin are not attacked. No gas is produced. 

 In my studies, several strains were isolated which exhibited anaerobic prefer- 

 ence for a few generations only, but were not like Torrey's strain either with 

 respect to anaerobic requirements or unusual acid-production in any one carbo- 

 hydrate. Torrey's results are of special interest in showing that there are 

 several types of diphtheroids commonly present in the lymph nodes of Hodgkin's 

 disease, none of which has definite pathogenic properties or can be accepted as 

 the cause of the disease. In this respect he confirms the findings of Bloomfield 

 and myself. 



EVE DIPHTHEROIDS 



Diphtheroids isolated from the eye were found to vary in cultural behavior. 

 Three strains were obligate aerobes and produced only a very slight amount 

 of acid in dextrose with 0.5 cc N/20 acid maltose. Seven other strains, facul- 

 tative, produced slight acid in the same sugars. One strain grew slightly, if 

 at all, on agar and favored Loeffler's serum. All of these grew rather deli- 

 cately on ascitic agar and serum. At room temperature growth was slow. The 

 organisms were large, clubbed and striated. The type C. xerosis prevailed. 



NASAL DIPHTHEROIDS 



Ten strains were isolated from nasal discharges, mostly in persons with 

 cold in the head. Of these, 5 strains were characterized by slight acid forma- 

 tion in dextrose with marked acid in maltose. The remaining 5 were of 2 

 types, one which produced slight acid, the other abundant acid in dextrose and 

 maltose. On Loeffler's serum, growth was abundant, white and glistening. 

 Stained with anilin dyes, the organisms appeared short and thick with larger 

 striped forms predominating. They are gram-positive, facultative, nonmotile, 

 do not form spores, are not acid fast and grow well in sugar broths. At 

 room temperature moderate to abundant growth takes place. The type C. 

 striatum prevailed. 



DIPHTHEROIDS FROM ASCITIC FLUIDS 



Thirty specimens from cases of cirrhosis and tuberculosis were studied 

 anaerobically and aerobically for diphtheroid organisms. No strict anaerobes 

 were found. For anaerobic cultures, Buchner tubes (Zinsser's modification*) 

 were used. Three strains were isolated- All are gram-positive, nonmotile, do 

 not form spores, are not acid-fast, are facultative. Two strains grow very 

 rapidly at room temperature, a third does not. One liquefies gelatin and gives 

 rise to an offensive odor after several days. In broths, the following results 

 were noted (litmus used as indicator). 



* A piece of absorbent cotton is pressed down over the pyroRallol to prevent rapid 

 mixiiiR with the NaOH. 



