124 TRANSFORMATION OF THE INTESTINAL FLORA 



organism is not so easily cultivated as B. acidophilus, and it has a much 

 higher energy requirement, so that much larger amounts would be 

 needed to establish it as the dominating flora than when the Moro 

 bacillus is employed. However, both B. bifidus and B. acidophilus ad- 

 ministration with a view to implantation has a thoroughly sound and 

 logical basis, which cannot be said of B. bulgaricus. 



Milk cultures of B. acidophilus have proven themselves to be par- 

 ticularly effective in transforming the intestinal flora of man. In some 

 instances 500 cubic centimeters of a twelve to twenty-four hour culture 

 were sufficient to bring about simplification with the desired elimination 

 of the non-aciduric forms. A total of 1000 cubic centimeters taken 

 daily in two applications in every instance brought about the trans- 

 formation in the course of a very few days. Practically the same 

 results were obtained when a daily amount of 500 cubic centimeters was 

 reinforced with 100 grams of lactose. 



B. acidophilus sour milk may be prepared readily, providing strains 

 of the organism are employed which have been grown for some time in 

 milk and which are adapted to this medium, and if transfers are made 

 to the sterile milk with liberal amounts of the inoculum, preferably a 

 young milk culture. When correctly prepared and cooled the milk is 

 of a creamy consistence. It should be shaken, however, for some time, 

 before using, to make it perfectly homogeneous and creamy in appear- 

 ance. Furthermore, the product has a pleasing odor and is decidedly 

 palatable. Aside from any therapeutic or medicinal properties which 

 acidophilus milk may possess, it should gain wide use as a beverage 

 alone, or as a food which has the nutritional properties of milk as such. 



No definite claims are made at this time that whey broth and milk 

 cultures of B. acidophilus have distinct therapeutic properties, al- 

 though two subjects who presented a long history of serious intestinal 

 disturbance were among the 17 subjects employed in the 45 milk- feed- 

 ing experiments conducted on man, and appeared to respond favorably 

 to the administration of 1000 cubic centimeters daily. These clinical 

 cases were not sought at this time, but requested to be admitted to the 

 experiments. We hesitate to discuss further the very satisfactory re- 

 sults that have been obtained, from every standpoint, with these two 

 subjects until a large number of clinical cases have been under observa- 

 tion. Our real aim thus far has been to determine whether intestinal 

 implantation of B. acidophilus in the white rat and in man can be ac- 

 complished, and under what conditions such implantation, whether 

 temporary or relatively permanent, can be brought about. The experi- 

 ments here recounted furnish the answers. 



