DIPHTHEROID ORGANISMS 29 



of the bacteria are straight, some slightly curved, coccoid forms also 

 occur. The ends are slightly rounded or pointed. Nonspore forming. 

 It is an obligate anaerobe and can be isolated on special glucose medi- 

 ums containing ascitic fluid of a definite specific gravity. Produces acid 

 in dextrose, galactose, maltose and inulin. Found in typhus fever with 

 regularity ; specific serum reactions ; pathogenic. 



C. acnes (Gilchrist) Eberson. Gram-positive, small organism, 

 resembling C. typhi-exanthematici. Stains unevenly ; anaerobic, but 

 many strains grow aerobically after continued cultivation. Surface 

 smears fail to show growth with material from pustules, whereas deep 

 stab cultures and heavily inoculated unbroken pustules always give 

 growth. Mediums with large amounts of acid especially adapted for 

 isolating this organism which produces acid in dextrose, saccharose 

 (slight), maltose, mannite and inulin. Raffinose is fermented by some 

 strains. Pathogenic for mice and gives rise to characteristic lesions. 



GROUP 8. Pyogenic Diphtheroids in Animals. Type C. pseudotu- 

 berculosis (Preisz) Eberson. Gram-positive, nonmotile, club-shaped. 

 On serum heavy moist growth with golden-yellow pigment. Toxin 

 production is attributed to the organism and it is fatal for guinea-pigs, 

 rabbits, goats and sheep. Blood agar with a minimum amount of fer- 

 mentable carbohydrate shows hemolysis. Acid in dextrose and maltose, 

 but not glycerin. Produces suppurative processes m the lymphatics. 



C. pyogenes (Glage). Gram-positive, nonmotile, club-shaped or 

 cylindrical. Does not grow at room temperature. Is facultatively 

 aerobic, produces no spores and is hemoglobinophilic. Pathogenicity 

 doubtful. No acid produced in dextrose or glycerol. 



C. vaccinae (Galli-Valerio). Gram-positive, nonmotile, club- 

 shaped, coccoid, segmented or branched. Facultatively anaerobic, non- 

 spore forming. On serum, growth abundant; pale yellow or orange- 

 yellow pigment produced ; gelatin not liquefied. Pathogenic for guinea- 

 pigs, mice and rabbits. Associated with vaccine pustules in calves. 



GROUP 9. Anaerobic Diphtheroids Associated with Diseased 

 Lymph Glands. Type C. lymphophilus (Torrey). Slender, pleomor- 

 phic, gram-positive, nonmotile ; markedly aciduric and acidophilic ; fer- 

 ments dextrose and glycerol; avirulent. From lymph nod-es in 

 Hodgkin's disease. 



DISCUSSION 



From this study, which is far from complete, it is evident that the 

 sources of diphtheroid organisms have not yet been exhausted. That 

 many strains are yet to be described is a foregone conclusion. The 



