204 RELATIONSHIPS OF THE COCCACE^ 



the viscid grayish growth characteristic of Alb. tetragenus, 

 occurred in fours or packets, stained by Gram, and failed 

 to liquefy gelatin or coagulate milk. Its pathogenicity 

 was slight. Two years later Schlafrig (1901) described 

 a similar organism, and noted that on prolonged cultiva- 

 tion it gradually lost its characteristic type of growth, 

 eventually forming dry porcelain-white colonies. 



According to our conception of genera, the genus Sar- 

 cina is marked by definite biochemical characters, as 

 well as by morphology. In habitat, Gram reaction, 

 and chromogenesis, as well as in its usual morphology, 

 Alb. tetragenus corresponds with the Paracoccaceae. 

 On the whole, therefore, it must be retained in the genus 

 Albococcus in spite of the occasional occurrence of packets. 

 Quantitative data with regard to its acid production, 

 which are at present lacking, will throw further light 

 upon this point. 



The production of a slimy viscid surface growth is not 

 an unfrequent occurrence among the albococci, and this 

 property alone is not definitely diagnostic of Alb. tetra- 

 genus. M. amarificans , Migula, and M. Freudenreichii, 

 Guillebeau, are forms, otherwise resembling Alb. pyogenes, 

 described as possessing this property in a marked degree. 

 M. gelatino genus, Brautigam, M. gummosus, Happ, M. 

 viticulosus, Fliigge, and other non-liquefying forms pro- 

 duce growth masses of a notably viscid nature. The 

 importance of this character in relation to morphology 

 and biochemical properties must be worked up, as it has 



