158 BACTERIA 



normally present in the saliva, sputum of tuberculous subjects, in 

 the cavities of phthisical lungs, and in abscesses. 



Pathogenesis. While causing a fatal septicaemia in mice, and 

 abscesses in rabbits, it is not of much moment from a pathological 

 standpoint, though it plays an important role in secondary infec- 

 tion in phthisis and bronchiectasis. 



COCCUS OF MALTA FEVER 



Micrococcus Melitensis. 



Bacterium Melitensis. 



Bacillus of Malta Fever. 



Coccus of Malta Fever. 



An organism belonging somewhere between the Coccacae and 

 Bacteriacae. It is small, oval-shaped, and of about .$n diameter, 

 occurring in culture singly, in pairs, or in chains. In the latter 

 form, the organism elongates and resembles, more strongly, bacilli. 

 It is non-motile and it has no spores. Stain faintly with the com- 

 mon basic dyes, but not by Gram's method. It has been found in 

 the blood during life, and by splenic puncture. 



Cultures. On gelatine its growth is slow, without liquefaction. 

 On agar the growth, at 37C., is more rapid. The colonies are 

 pearly white, becoming yellow. In bouillon it produces turbidity, 

 with a flocculent deposit. No pellicle is formed. On potato an 

 invisible growth occurs. Milk is not coagulated, nor are acids or 

 gases produced. 



Pathogenesis. It causes in man, Malta fever. Rabbits, 

 guinea pigs, and mice are not susceptible to inoculation, but the 

 disease can be produced in monkeys. 



Agglutination. The serum from an individual suffering from 

 Malta fever agglutinates the bacilli, even in dilutions as high as j 

 i-ioo. 



