THE GENUS ALBOCOCCUS 



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occur in the tissues in regular groups of four, surrounded 

 by a capsule, and second in its slimy viscid growth on 

 media. Both characteristics are probably the result of 

 the tendency to zooglea formation. This type, there- 

 fore, represents among the white staphylococci the develop- 

 ment of the same latent power which shows itself 

 among the diplococci in D. involutus and which is de- 

 veloped to the highest degree in Ascococcus mesenteroides. 

 This type center does not rest on comparative quantita- 

 tive data as in the case of the earlier ones; but its proper- 

 ties are so striking, and have been recorded by so many 

 observers, as to leave little doubt of its validity. The 

 species may be characterized as follows: 



4. ALB. TETRAGENUS (Gaffky) Winslow. A parasitic 

 coccus, living normally on the surfaces of the human or 

 animal body (most commonly in the nose and throat) , or pene- 

 trating the tissues in disease. Occurs in the body in regular 

 groups of four, surrounded by a capsule. Generally stains 

 by Gram. Good surface growth, of grayish-white color, 

 and viscid consistency. Gelatin not liquefied. 



It appears probable that Alb. tetragenus may occasion- 

 ally produce packet groupings. Lehmann and Neu- 

 mann (1896) - record this occurrence in hay infusions, 

 and Migula (1900) observed the same appearance in 

 animal tissues. Migula definitely transfers the organism 

 to the genus Sarcina under the name S. tetragena. A 

 form perhaps allied to this was the sarcina isolated by 

 Loewenberg (1899) fr m a case f ozaena. It produced 



