BACTERIA IN THE INDUSTRIES 



717 



isolated from milk by Massol 1 and Cohendy 2 in 1905. This bacillus, 

 according to the researches of Bertrand and Weisweiller, 3 produces as 

 much as 25 grams of lactic acid per liter of milk. In addition to this, 

 it manufactures, from the same quantity of milk, about 50 centigrams 

 of acetic and succinic acids and exerts no putrefactive action upon pro- 



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FIG. 155. BACILLUS BULGARICUS. 



teids. Added to these characters, it is especially adapted to therapeutic 

 application by its complete lack of pathogenicity. 



The administration of the bacillus to patients suffering from intestinal 

 putrefaction, first suggested by Metchnikoff in 1906, has, since that time, 

 been extensively practiced and often with remarkable success. In spite 

 of sharp criticism, especially by Luersen and Kuhn, 4 who deny much of 



1 Massol, Revue medicale de la Suisse romande, 1905. 



2 Cohendy, Comptes rend, de la soc. de biol., 60, 1906. 



3 Bertrand and Weisweiller, Ann. de 1'inst. Pasteur, 1906. 



4 Luersen and Kuhn, Cent, f . Bakt., II, xx, 1908. 



