MICROCOCCUS INTRA CEL L ULARIS. 305 



part of them, notwithstanding the fact that on micro- 

 scopic examination the organism may have been readily 

 detected in large numbers in the exudate. Illustrative 

 of this difficulty, the following experience of Council- 

 man, Mallory, and Wright may properly be quoted: 1 



"As showing the difficulty in growing the organisms 

 in cultures made from the meninges at the post-mortern 

 examination, ten cultures were made in one case from 

 the exudation on the brain and six from the cord, cover- 

 slip examinations showing abundant organisms in the 

 cells. Only two of the cultures from the brain and one 

 from the cord showed a growth. As a rule, the organ- 

 isms were more easily obtained in cultures made from 

 the acute cases than from the chronic.' 7 



When successfully isolated in pure culture its growth 

 is never profuse on any medium. On the serum mixt- 

 ure of Loffler the isolated colonies appear as round, 

 viscid, smooth, sharply defined points that may attain 

 a diameter of 1 to 1.5 mm. There is no liquefaction 

 of the medium. Cultures from very acute cases occa- 

 sionally present an abundant growth of fine, transparent 

 colonies strongly suggestive of those of micrococcus 

 lanceolatus. 



On glycerin-agar the colonies are round, pearly, trans- 

 lucent, flat, and viscid in appearance. They tend to 

 become confluent. Under low magnifying power thoy 

 are homogeneous, semitransparent, faintly brownish, 

 with well-defined smooth margins. On plain agar the 

 growth is feeble and uncertain. 



Its growth in bouillon is slow and uncertain. It does 

 not cause clouding of the fluid, but collects at the bottom 



1 See " Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis," etc., Report of the State 

 Board of Health, Mass., 1898, by Councilman, Mallory, and WHght. 



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