THE SAPROGENIC AND SAPROPHILIC BACTERIA 2IQ 



which produce the majority of putrefaction. The following 

 table from Wells' s " Chemical Pathology " gives a partial 

 list of some of the more important bacteria and other micro- 

 organisms which produce digesting proteolytic enzymes: 



PROTEOLYTIC DIGESTING ENZYMES 



The above table shows that there is a selective action by 

 the bacterial enzymes from different species on the various 

 protein compounds. The digestion of gelatin takes place 

 in a definite manner among the various species of bacteria 

 (see Fig. 30). 



A few bacterial enzymes which might be considered as 

 steatolytic have been noted in putrefying fluids. Ps. 

 pyocyanea, B. prodigiosus, M. pyogenes var. aureus, are 

 among the best-known bacteria which produce fat-splitting 



