Micrococcus Tetragenus 361 



STREPTOCOCCUS ERYSIPELATIS (FEHLEISEN). 



The streptococcus of Rosenbach is generally thought to 

 be identical with a streptococcus described by Fehleisen* as 

 Streptococcus erysipelatis . 



The streptococcus of erysipelas can be obtained in almost 

 pure culture from the serum which oozes from a puncture 

 made in the margin of an erysipelatous patch. They are 

 small cocci, usually forming chains of from six to ten indi- 

 viduals, but sometimes reaching a hundred or more in num- 

 ber. Occasionally the chains occur in tangled masses. 



They can be cultivated at the room temperature, but grow 

 much better at 30 to 37 C. They are not particularly sensi- 

 tive to the presence or absence of oxygen, but perhaps de- 

 velop a little more rapidly in its presence. The cultural 

 appearances are identical with those of Streptococcus 

 pyogenes. 



When injected into animals Fehleisen 's coccus behaves 

 exactly like Streptococcus pyogenes. 



MICROCOCCUS TETRAGENUS (GAFFKY). 



General Characteristics. Large, round, encapsulated cocci, regu- 

 larly associated in groups of four, forming tetrads. They are non- 

 motile, non-flagellated, non-sporogenous, non-liquefying, non-chromo- 

 genic, non-aerogenic, aerobic and optionally aerobic, pathogenic 

 for mice and other small animals, and stain well by all methods, in- 

 cluding that of Gram. 



A large micrococcus grouped in fours and known as Micro- 

 coccus tetragenus can sometimes be found in normal saliva, 

 tuberculous sputum, and more commonly in the contents of 

 the cavities of tuberculosis pulmonalis. It sometimes occurs 

 in the pus of acute abscesses, and may be of importance in 

 connection with the pulmonary abscesses which complicate 

 tuberculosis. It was discovered by Gaffky.f 



Morphology. The cocci are rather large, measuring 

 about i u in diameter. In cultures they do not show the regu- 

 lar arrangement in tetrads as constantly as in the blood and 

 tissues of animals, where they occur in groups of four sur- 

 rounded by a transparent gelatinous capsule. 



* " Verhandlungen der Wiirzburger med. Gesellschaft," 1881. 

 t "Archiv. f. Chirurgie," 28, 3. 



