116 ESSENTIALS OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



with the tetragenus cultures, and the mierococcus is then found 

 in large numbers in the blood and viscera. 



Field mice are immune. 



In the cavities of tubercular lungs, in the sputum of phthisical 

 and healthy patients, it is often found, but what action it has 

 upon man has not yet been determined. 



Capsule Bacillus. Pfeitfer. 



Origin. Stringy exudate and blood of a dead guinea-pig. 



Form. Thick little rods, sometimes in long threads. Large 

 oval capsules in the stained preparations. 



Properties. Immotile, not liquefying, an odorless gas in gela- 

 tine cultures. 



Growth. At ordinary temperatures, quite rapidly ; facultative 

 anserobin. 



Gelatine Plates. Oval points, and like a porcelain button on 

 the surface. 



Stub Cultures. Like the pneumonia bacillus of Friedlander. 



Potatoes. Abundant growth, yellow color and moist, coming 

 off in strings. 



Staining. Hot fuchsin colors the capsule intensely ; then care- 

 fully decolorizing with acetic acid, the capsules are seen rad or 

 light violet around the deeply-tinged bacillus. Gram's method 

 not applicable. 



Patlwgenesis. Subcutaneously injected in mice, they die in 

 48 hours. Rabbits die whon a large quantity is injected into 

 the circulation. The blood and juices have a peculiar stringy, 

 fibrinous consistence. 



Micro-Organisms of Suppuration. The suppuration of wounds 

 is due to the presence of germs. The knowledge of this fact is 

 the basis of the antiseptic treatment in surgery ; for when the 

 microbes can be destroyed or their entrance prevented, the 

 wounds are made clean and kept without suppurating. Vari- 

 ous forms of bacteria have been found in septic procer-ses, and 

 the formation of pus cannot be ascribed to any particular one 

 alone ; some, more common than others, are found in nearly all 

 forms of suppuration ; others give rise to special types. 



Wounds are often irritated by foreign bodies and chemicals, 

 and a discharge occurs in them even when every aseptic and 



