22 FREDERICK EBERSON 



Strain Dextrose Lactose Saccharose Maltose Mannite Dextrin Raffinose 

 9 + + + + + 



42 ____ 



43 



Strain 43 liquefies gelatin and produces a putrid odor. This strain, prac- 

 tically conforms to the description given by Graham Smith to a liquefying 

 diphtheroid which he named B. diphtheroides liquefaciens. Motility is lacking, 

 however. As was mentioned before, it does not seem as if this property is 

 peculiar to the group with which we are dealing. The organism isolated from 

 ascitic fluid is slender, curved and appears granular. It does not form spores, 

 is facultative, grows abundantly with confluent mass on agar at room tempera* 

 ture and at 37 C. and gives off a decidedly putrid odor. On Loeffler's serum 

 it produces a heavy white, moist and glistening layer. It is suggested that the 

 name C. putidum sp. nov. be given to this species. Strain 9 is characterized 

 by its wide range of fermenting power. It is a very small rod, not much larger 

 than B. influenzae. On first isolation, club-shaped forms predominated. It 

 is gram-positive, nonmotile, does not form spores, is facultative, forms acid 

 in dextrose, saccharose, maltose, mannite and dextrin. It grows abundantly 

 at room temperature and at 37 C. On Loeffler's serum, abundant growth occurs. 

 It does not liquefy gelatin. C. ascites sp. nov. is proposed as a name for this 

 diphtheroid. Strain 42 is a small gram-positive organism, nonmotile, forms no 

 spores, grows moderately on ascitic agar at 37 C. In the early generations this 

 organism showed a decided preference for anaerobic conditions. No growth 

 takes place at room temperature after 10 days. It does not liquefy gelatin 

 and does not ferment sugar broths. Grows best in raffinose broth. This seems 

 to be the most selective medium for obtaining abundant growth. All of the 

 diphtheroids studied grew moderately well and for the most part abundantly 

 in the presence of this trisaccharid when other sugars used for fermentation 

 studies showed little or no growth other than a sediment. C. delicatum sp. nov. 

 is suggested as the name for this species (see blood diphtheroids). 



In the early generations this organism showed a decided preference for 

 anaerobic conditions. 



A peculiarity noted in the isolations from ascitic fluids was the fact that 

 the first generation always had larger clubbed and knobbed forms. In suc- 

 ceeding subcultures only very small diphtheroids were seen. 



DIPHTHEROIDS IN BLOOD CULTURES 



Two strains were isolated from blood cultures in cases of pneumonia. In 

 the first generation these showed larger clubbed forms and small rods. Growth 

 is delicate. The organisms are small gram-positive, nonmotile, facultative and 

 produce very slight acid in dextrose or maltose but as a rule leave all sugars 

 unfermented. Gelatin is not liquefied and growth at room temperature is 

 negative after 10 days. On Loeffler's serum moderate growth occurs. These 

 diphtheroids have been identified with C. delicatum. 



SKIN DIPHTHEROIDS 



Hine working with 34 strains of diphtheroids found a group which was asso- 

 ciated with skin wounds or diseased cavities opening on to or near the sur- 

 face. Strains of this group were found to acidify dextrose, saccharose usually 

 and less often maltose. The author did not describe these organisms. That 

 diphtheroids can be found on the skin very readily is well established. Judging 

 by the amazing number of sources from which the organisms of this group may 



