CHAPTER VIII. 



CULTIVATION OF ANAEROBIC BACTERIA. 



PASTEUR, as early as 1861, demonstrated that certain 

 species of bacteria will grow only in the absence of oxygen. 

 Anaerobic bacteria grow best in a medium containing from 1 

 to 2 per cent, of sugar. Various methods have been devised 

 for the cultivation of these organisms. Some of them are 



FIG. 29. 



laborious tube for anaerobic cultures : x = places sealed. 



simple and others very complicated, requiring considerable 

 apparatus. A tube containing at least 20 c.c. of medium is 

 inoculated while the medium is liquid. The anaerobic bac- 

 teria develop in the body of the medium. 



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