BACILLUS PROTEUS 231 



Metchnikoff regarded it as the usual cause of infantile diarrhea. 

 On nasal membranes it frequently occurs as a more or less harm- 

 less parasite, decomposing the secretions and giving rise to a 

 putrefactive odor. Certain outbreaks of food poisoning have 

 been attributed to the " ptomains " produced by the putre- 

 factive action of B. proteus. In such cases the food is disagree- 

 able both in taste and odor. Hence food poisoning of this type is 

 less likely to occur than that due to the paratyphoid-enteritidis 

 group or to B. botulinus, where there is little or no perceptible 

 change. 



