CLASSIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCI 407 



The action of various chemical disinfectants lias been thoroughly 

 investigated by v. Lingelsheim/ 5 Avho reports among others the 

 following results: Carbolic acid 1:200 kills streptococci in fifteen 

 minutes. In the same time, bichloride of mercury is efficient in a 

 dilution of 1 :1,500, lysol in a dilution of 1 :200, peroxide of hydrogen 

 1 :35, sulphuric acid 1 :150, and hydrochloric acid 1 :150. Inhibition 

 is exerted by carbolic acid 1 :550, and by bichloride of mercury 

 1 :65,000. Exposure to direct sunlight kills streptococci in a few 

 hours. 



CLASSIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCI 



Since the first discovery of the chain forming cocci there has 

 been much confusion concerning their classification. 



The Gram-positive cocci of this morphological group are widely 

 distributed in nature and vary very markedly in minor cultural 

 characteristics and virulence, so that a unification of the group, 

 as it has been possible with many other organisms, has been prac- 

 tically impossible. The earliest observers were forced to abandon 

 their separation of the streptococci of erysipelas from other strepto- 

 cocci because of the work of Marbaix 16 and others, who produced 

 erysipelas in rabbits with streptococci from non-erysipelatous lesions, 

 after enhancement of their virulence. V. Lingelsheim 17 proposed a 

 purely morphological differentiation of "longus" and "brevis"; the 

 former class including the streptococci usually found in pyogenic 

 lesions with tendency to form chains of six or more links, the latter 

 designating the short-chained varieties, including the less virulent 

 streptococci. This classification, however, is not tenable because of 

 the dependence of chain formation upon reaction, consistency, and 

 nutritive qualities of the media employed for cultivation, and upon 

 the influence of animal fluids if the microorganisms are taken direct 

 from lesions. Schottmuller, 18 in 1903, proposed a classification based 

 both upon morphology and the appearance of cultures upon human 

 blood agar. By this method he divided streptococci into two main 



15 v. Lingelsheim, "Aetiol. u. Therap. d. Streptoe. Inf.," etc., Beit. z. Exper. 

 Therap., Hft., 1, 1899. 

 Marbaix, loc. cit. 



17 v. Lingelsheim, "Aetiol. u. Therap. d. Streptokok. Krankh.," etc., Berlin, 

 1899. 



18 Schottmuller, Munch, med. Woch., 1903. 



