IMPORTANT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA 123 



SECTION 5 

 THE CAPSULATED GROUP 



Members 



Bacillus capsulatus. 

 B. rhinoscleromatis. 



Inoculate agar slants from laboratory cultures of 

 B. capsulatus (Friedlander's pneumo-bacillus) and B. 

 rhinoscleromatis. 



1. Routine study. Observe the viscous condition 

 of cultures on solid media, the consistency of liquid 

 media, and the gas formation on potato. 



2. Special study. Staining of capsules from 24- 

 hour-old milk cultures (see p. 109). 



3. Special study. Intraperitoneal inoculation of a 

 rabbit with B. capsulatus. 



Method of intraperitoneal inoculation. The rabbit 

 is held in the same manner as described on p. 106. 

 The hair is clipped close over the left lower abdominal 

 quadrant. Then (after washing with mercuric chlorid 

 i : 1,000 and alcohol) pass the needle at first beneath the 

 skin, then, holding it at about a right angle to the 

 abdominal surface, push it through the abdominal wall, 

 which is usually made tense by the resistance of the 

 animal. Successful passage of the abdominal wall can 

 be felt by the sudden loss of resistance to the needle's 

 pressure. Then make the injection, and withdraw 

 the syringe. If the contents of the needle have been 

 emptied into the peritoneal cavity, no swelling takes 



