306 CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY. 



20 C. (68 F. ) it is capable of sporulation. The spore, situ- 

 ated centrally, is at times wider than the bacillus, which then 

 assumes a spindle-shaped, distended appearance. The vibrio 

 septicus is a rigidly anaerobic organism. It stains without 

 difficulty with all of the aniline dyes, but not by Gram's 

 method. 



Cultural Properties. On gelatin-plates the colonies present 

 the appearance of glistening, hollow globules, filled with fluid. 

 At their center, with a magnification of from 80 to 100, a dense 

 network of intimately intertwined threads may be seen, with 

 radiating processes at the periphery. On more careful exami- 

 nation it will be observed that the colony is in motion. 



Fig. 66. Bacillus of malignant edema, from the body-juice of a guinea-pig inoculated 

 with garden-earth; X 1000 (Frankel and Pfeiffer). 



On agar-plates small, irregular, whitish, translucent colonies 

 appear, with a dense center, from which innumerable delicate 

 ramifications proceed. 



In high gelatin stab-culture liquefaction and turbidity of the 

 underlying gelatin take place, with abundant formation of gas, 

 especially on addition of reducing substances. 



In high agar stab-cultures the line of inoculation exhibits ser- 

 rated branched margins. Abundant gas-production takes place. 



Bouillon is rendered turbid, and later a precipitate forms. 

 The reaction is not changed, but carbon dioxid and hydrogen 

 develop. 



All cultures generate a disagreeable, fetid odor. 



