194 RELATIONSHIPS OF THE COCCACE^ 



yellow may be detected by the method of examination de- 

 scribed in Chapter III. To the casual observer, however, 

 the growth of such micrococci will appear white; and 

 these forms can only be distinguished from the albococci 

 by fermentative power and reaction to the Gram stain. 



The type center of the albococci has been denned as 

 follows : 



Genus Albococcus (Winslow and Rogers). Parasites. 

 Cells in groups and short chains {never in packets). Gener- 

 ally stain by Gram. Growth on agar streak abundant, 

 and porcelain-white in color. Sugars fermented with pro- 

 duction of a moderate amount of acid. Gelatin liquefaction 

 and nitrate reduction may or may not occur. 



Recent medical literature offers abundant evidence of 

 the ubiquity of Albococcus pyogenes (under the names 

 Staphylococcus pyogenes albus and Staphylococcus epider- 

 midis albus) on the surfaces of the body, and its occasional 

 connection with processes of disease. It may be asso- 

 ciated with practically all the pathological conditions 

 characteristic of the Aurococcus, or it may occur fairly 

 deep in the layers of the skin without any evidence of 

 malign influence. Albococcus pyogenes has been isolated 

 from suppurative diseases in many animals, recently, for 

 example, in the hare (Biirgi, 1905). 



The virulence of the white staphylococci varies widely, 

 and a considerable mass of evidence, summarized in 

 Chapter VIII, shows that among the white, as among the 

 orange forms, pathogenic and non-pathogenic types may be 



