THE GENUS ALBOCOCCUS 



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occur in the tissues in regular groups of four, surrounded 

 by a capsule, and second in its slimy viscid growth on 

 media. Both characteristics are probably the result of 

 the tendency to zooglea formation. This type, there- 

 fore, represents among the white staphylococci the develop- 

 ment of the same latent power which shows itself 

 among the diplococci inv D. involutus and which is de- 

 veloped to the highest degree in Ascococcus mesenteroides. 

 This type center does not rest on comparative quantita- 

 tive data as in the case of the earlier ones; but its proper- 

 ties are so striking, and have been recorded by so many 

 observers, as to leave little doubt of its validity. The 

 species may be characterized as follows: 



4. Alb. tetragenus (Gaffky) Winslow. A parasitic 

 coccus j living normally on the surfaces of the human or 

 animal body {most commonly in the nose and throat) , or pene- 

 trating the tissues in disease. Occurs in the body in regular 

 groups of four, surrounded by a capsule. Generally stains 

 by Gram. Good surface growth, of grayish-white color, 

 and viscid consistency. Gelatin not liquefied. 



It appears probable that Alb. tetragenus may occasion- 

 ally produce packet groupings. Lehmann and Neu- 

 mann (1896) record this occurrence in hay infusions, 

 and Migula (1900) observed the same appearance in 

 animal tissues. Migula definitely transfers the organism 

 to the genus Sarcina under the name S. tetragena. A 

 form perhaps allied to this was the sarcina isolated by 

 Loewenberg (1899) from a case of ozaena. It produced 



