PRODUCERS OF ABSCESS, CELLULITIS, ETC. 471 



According to Passet, it is more common than the 

 aureus in man; but the majority of bacteriologists 

 agree with Rosenbach, that the aureus is found at 

 least twice as frequently in human pathological pro- 

 cesses as the albus. 



Staphylococcus Epidermis Albus (Welch). 



Probably identical with the staphylococcus pyogenes 

 albus, but found by Welch on the surface of the body, 

 though often present in parts of the epidermis deeper 

 than can be reached by any known means of cutaneous 

 disinfection save the application of heat. 



With reference to this micrococcus, Welch says : 

 " So far as our observations extend and already they 

 amount to a large number this coccus may be regarded 

 as a nearly, if not quite, constant inhabitant of the 

 epidermis. It is now clear why I have proposed to 

 call it the staphylococcus epidermis albus. It possesses 

 such feeble pyogenic capacity, as is shown by its be- 

 havior in wounds, as well as by experiments on rab- 

 bits, that the designation staphylococcus pyogenes albus 

 does not seem appropriate. Still, I am not inclined to 

 insist too much upon this point, as very probably this 

 coccus, which has hitherto been unquestionably identi- 

 fied by Bossowski and others with the ordinary staphylo- 

 coccus pyogenes albus of Rosenbach, is an attenuated 

 or modified form of the latter organism, although, as 

 already mentioned, it presents some points of difference 

 from the classical description of the white pyogenic 

 coccus ." 







According to Welch, this coccus differs from the 

 staphylococcus aureus not only in color, but also in 

 the fact that it liquefies gelatin more slowly, does not so 



