DIPHTHEROID ORGANISMS 11 



bits by means of intraperitoneal or intrapulmonary inoculations. Concludes 

 that the organism is not etiologic for pyelonephritis, since he could not recover 

 the organism from the lesions or reproduce the disease. 



Grips named an organism which he isolated from swine Bacillus pyogenes 

 suis. Kunnemann described a similar organism from cattle under the name 

 B. pyogenes bovis. Glage combined the two under the single specific name 

 B. pyogenes. Glage and Prieve, in their studies have shown that the organisms 

 are related to the influenza bacillus and are members of the group of hemo- 

 globinophilic organisms. The name C. pyogenes (Glage) is perhaps most suit- 

 able for this organism. 



Among human beings, pus cavities and suppurating wounds have been found 

 to harbor diphtheroid organisms. Whether or not these possess pyogenic prop- 

 erties is speculative. It may be of interest to note that three strains isolated 

 by the writer have been obtained from an anal pus pocket in a patient whose 

 kidney underwent suppuration and complete necrosis. These organisms have 

 been injected subcutaneously and intraperitoneally into guinea-pigs with nega- 

 tive results. Diphtheroids found in sinuses following abscess formation are 

 not rare. It is very likely that these organisms are skin inhabitants. 



B. STRIATUS FLAVUS (V. BESSER) 



Eisenberg's description : Found in normal nasal mucus. Short thick rods, 

 sometimes curved, with striped or barred appearance. On agar white, thick 

 growth with yellow pigment. Grows rapidly at room temperature, no spores. 



B. STRIATUS ALBUS (v. BESSER) 



Same source as B. striatus flavus. Appearance the same. Growth on agar 

 is white and glistening, no spores. Fliigge mentions B. striatus albus only. 

 Chester has named the organism B. striatum. 



That these striped diphtheroids occur in the normal nasal mucus has been 

 shown by several investigators. Undoubtedly v. Besser was dealing with but 

 one type of organism which is capable of producing pigment varying from white 

 to yellow. In a comprehensive study made by Morse this was found to be the 

 case. Our own studies have confirmed these findings. Morse has given this 

 species diphtheroid the name B. flavidus with the following diagnosis : Thick 

 forms with clear cut bars. Large and irregular granules visible. Heavy 

 growth on serum with pigment varying in color from white to yellow. Ferments 

 dextrose and maltose but not saccharose. B. flavidus as a species designation 

 is invalid since a prior description had already been given by v. Besser and 

 later amended by Chester to conform with binomial system of nomenclature. 

 The emendation by Morse is recognized but the species should be written. 

 Coryn. striatum (Chester) nov. comb. 



B. BORDONI UFFREDUZZI (EISENBERG) 



This is known as B. epidermidis and has been described as Bizzozeros Lep- 

 tothrix epidermidis. It is an avirulent spore-former growing best at 15-20 C. 

 Since this organism does not conform to the genus requirements, it should not 

 be classed with the diphtheroids. ' 



B. CLAVATUS 



Fliigge, in 1894, gave this name to a club-shaped bacillus which he isolated 

 from milk heated to 100 C. for one hour. It is a long bacillus, motile, forms 

 spores. Swollen at ends, anaerobic, liquefies gelatin. 



