284 -KOPINESS IN MILK, ETC. 



solution. According to the conditions of cultivation, Bacterium 

 gummosum appears as long or short rods, diplococcus or strepto- 

 coccus, the first forms being motile and producing endospores. 

 The addition of acetate of potash or soda or of yeast ash to the 

 nutrient solution (e.g. sugar-beet juice, &c.) is highly favourable 

 to development and to the production of mucus. 



The Bacillus gummosus, isolated by C. HAPP (I.) from a ropy 

 infusion of Digitalis, is characterised by its large size, the length 

 being 5.0-7.5 /x, and the breadth 0.6-2.0 /x. It exhibits an un- 

 dulatory motion and forms endospores. In cultures on slices of 

 potato and beet the cells are globular, with a diameter of 0.7-0.8 ft, 

 but when transferred to gelatin or agar-agar they quickly become 

 rod-shaped. Happ obtained from ropy Senega infusion a pure 

 culture of Micrococcus gummosus, the diameter of which is about 

 0.4/0,. A notable difference exists between these two species with 

 respect to their behaviour towards sugars, the first-named being 

 able to set up ropy fermentation only in presence of saccharose, 

 whilst the Micrococcus also attacks maltose. The resulting mucus 

 (soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol and ether), which has 

 the elementary formula C 6 H 10 5 , is, although the chief, not the 

 sole product of this fermentation, small amounts of mannite, 

 butyric acid, lactic acid, and carbon-dioxide being also formed ; 

 and a part of the saccharose is converted into glucose. 



The so-called distilled waters (e.g. orange-flower water) often 

 undergo mucinous decomposition, some particulars of which have 

 been reported by L. YIRON (I.). As a remedy for this evil, 

 P. Carles advised the shaking up of the affected water with 

 2-3 grains of basic nitrate of bismuth per litre, and filtering after 

 standing. This is said to have answered particularly well with 

 orange-flower water. Ordinary distilled water is often rendered 

 inucinous by bacteria, especially when kept in wooden vessels; 

 A. GOLDBERG (I.) has reported an instance of this kind. 



A fission fungus, Bacterium gliscrogenum, 0.57-1.1 ,u long 

 and 0.4 fi broad, has been isolated by P. MALERBA and G. SANNA- 

 SALARIS (I.) from mucinous, viscid urine (which often exhibits 

 this property as soon as voided), and has been recognised as the 

 cause of this condition. According to a research of MALERBA'S (L), 

 the mucus (gliscrin) thereby formed is nitrogenous. 



It is well known that ink frequently becomes mucinous and 

 viscid. M. HRY (I.) investigated this matter and examined a 

 bacterial species concerned therein. As a preventive measure he 

 recommends an addition of not less than 0.5 gram of salicylic 

 acid per litre of ink. 



C. BOERSCH (I.) made an observation, interesting to the chemist, 

 concerning a fission fungus, Sarcina flava, capable of producing 

 ropiness in various liquids. This organism attacks fumaric acid 

 (in acid solutions), but, on the other hand, leaves the isomeric 

 maleic acid, COOH CH = CH COOH, untouched. 



