CHAPTER IX. 

 THE GENUS ALBOCOCCUS. 



It has been recognized by all students of the bacterial 

 flora of the skin, since Rosenbach, that cocci producing 

 a somewhat abundant white growth are among the 

 commonest organisms found. These forms have gen- 

 erally been classified by dermatologists and patholo- 

 gists with the orange pigment formers, under the general 

 term "staphylococci." On the other hand, systematic 

 bacteriologists, like Migula and Chester, have grouped the 

 white staphylococci of the skin with white saprophytic 

 forms, and the orange staphylococci with yellow saprophytic 

 forms. All organisms not normally found in chains or 

 packets are included by them in the genus Micrococcus; 

 and this genus is divided into arbitrary groups according 

 to chromogenesis and liquefaction, without reference to 

 habitat. 



We have pointed out in Chapter IV the reasons which 

 led us to conclude that the orange and white cocci of the 

 skin should be separated from the saprophytic micrococci 

 of the earth and water. The parasitic organisms show 

 definite group differences, in reaction to the Gram stain, 

 in extent and character of surface growth, in acid pro- 

 duction, and, to some extent, in gelatin liquefaction, which 



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