SPIRILL UM METSCHNIKO VI. 593 



of the liquefied gelatin in the form of a coiled mass, 

 while a thin, yellowish layer forms upon the surface ; 

 complete liquefaction usually occurs in about two weeks. 

 Upon the surface of agar a thin, yellowish layer is de- 

 veloped. Blood-serum is rapidly liquefied. The indol 

 reaction in peptone solutions is absent. 



Pathogenesis. Somewhat pathogenic for guinea-pigs 

 when inoculated by Koch's method with previous ad- 

 ministration of soda solution and laudanum. 



It is probable that this organism, from the locality in 

 which it is found and its behavior, is a saprophyte. 



SPIRILLUM METSCHNIKOVI. 



Discovered in 1888, in Odessa, by Gamalei'a in the 

 intestinal contents of fowls dying of an infectious dis- 

 ease which prevails in certain parts of Russia during 

 the summer months, and which presents symptoms 

 resembling fowl-cholera. GamaleiVs experiments show 

 that this organism is the cause of the disease mentioned. 

 It has since been found by Pf uhl and Pfeiffer in the water 

 of the Spree at Berlin, and in the Lahn by Kutchler. 



Morphology. Morphologically this spirillum is almost 

 identical with the cholera spirillum; it forms curved 

 rods with rounded ends and spiral filaments, the curved 

 segments being somewhat thicker, shorter, and often 

 more decidedly curved than the comma bacillus. In 

 the blood of inoculated pigeons the diameter is some 

 times twice as great as that of the cholera spirillum, 

 and almost coccus-like forms are often found. A single, 

 long, undulating flagellum is attached to one end of the 

 spiral filaments or curved rods. In old cultures beau- 

 tiful long spiral filaments may be seen. 



38 



