VIBRIO METCHNIKOVL 



401 



are almost identical in appearance with those of the 

 cholera organism, whilst others show more uniformly 

 turbid contents. In puncture cultures the growth takes 

 place more rapidly, but in appearance closely resembles 

 that of the cholera organism a few days older. Its growth 

 in peptone solution too is closely similar, and it also gives 

 the cholera-red reaction. 



This organism can, however, be readily distinguished 

 from the cholera organism 

 by the effects of inoculation 

 on animals, especially on 

 pigeons and guinea-pigs. 

 Subcutaneous inoculation 

 of small quantities of pure 

 culture in pigeons is 

 followed by acute inflam- 

 matory swelling with de- 

 generation of the sub- 

 jacent muscles, and 

 septicaemia occurs, which 

 produces a fatal result 

 usually within twenty-four 

 hours, the organism being 

 present in the blood. 

 There may be some 

 desquamation of the in- 

 testinal epithelium, but 

 only a few organisms are 

 present in the bowel. 

 Inoculation with the 

 same quantity of cholera 



i organism produces practi- 



FIG. 96. Puncture cultures m pep- 



| cally no result ; even with tone-gelatine. 



large quantities death is A. Metchnikoff's spirillum. Five days' 



growth. 



B. Finkler and Prior's spirillum. 



rarely 

 vibrio 



produced. 

 Metchnikovi 



pro- 



days' growth. Natural size. 



Four 



duces somewhat similar effects in guinea-pigs, subcutaneous 

 inoculation being followed by extensive haemorrhagic 

 26 



