BACILLUS-COLI-LlKE BACTERIA FROM FECES AND SEWAGE 25 



of acid during the journey from the intestinal tract to the oysters." 

 He states, however, that in his laboratory experiments he was unable 

 to cause a reduction in fermenting power even after long periods (8 

 weeks) of storage in sea water. 



It appears from this study that a very plausible explanation of 

 Browne's results is that Voges-Proskauer-positive organisms were 

 among his oyster strains. Such organisms are very rare in feces, 

 but not uncommon in sewage and soil washings. The admixture of, a 



ftc/d-Ffroe/uct/on by Voges - 



i Co//'- Li fee Bacter/a 



few Voges-Proskauer-positive organisms in a collection of colon- 

 bacillus-like strains would decrease the mean amount of acid formed 

 from glucose and raise the titer of that from sucrose. The oyster 

 strains employed by Browne formed less acid from glucose, and some- 

 what more from sucrose, than the fecal strains, thus confirming to 

 some extent the inference that the differences he observed were due 

 to an admixture of a few Voges-Proskauer-positive organisms rather 

 than to a loss of fermenting power by colon-bacillus-like strains in 

 their passage through sewage. 



