THE GENUS ALBOCOCCUS 197 



originally saprophytic origin, may be found at times upon 

 the skin. This is evidently the case with the more dis- 

 tinctly yellow forms grouped under the name Staphylococ- 

 cus pyogenes citreus, which, as we have pointed out above, 

 are probably allied with the saprophytic micrococci. It 

 is possible, on the other hand, that such forms as those 

 described by Gordon may be simply strains of albococci 

 which have lost their normal powers. They may there- 

 fore constitute, either a special type center of albococci 

 with low fermentative powers, or a special type center of 

 micrococci partly adapted to life on the body. It seems 

 wisest to await further evidence as to the quantitative 

 characters and distribution of such forms before giving 

 a name to the type center. The other two of Gordon's 

 types, on the other hand, are clearly albococci, distin- 

 guished from each other by their action upon gelatin, 

 nitrates, and glycerin. Type I liquefies gelatin, reduces 

 nitrates, acidifies glycerin, and clots milk; type III does 

 none of these things. Both forms have been recorded 

 by other observers, and both have been observed by us 

 in our series of cultures. 



In our own investigations we found twenty-three out 

 of five hundred cocci which could be classed as albococci. 

 All were obtained from the body or from air. All showed 

 a good surface growth of white color. Sixteen were Gram- 

 positive on two successive tests, two Gram-negative, and 

 five variable. The average acidity in dextrose broth 

 was .007 normal and in lactose broth .005 normal. In 



