IQ8 BACTERIA 



Grows only in media that are alkaline, and is capable of growth 

 at from i8C. to 35C., though best below 25C.; 10 percent 

 of chloride of soda checks growth. 



Chemical Activities. It can produce, at room temperature, 

 a water-soluble toxin sufficiently stable to withstand drying of 

 meat if not exposed to sunlight, and not destroyed by the gastric 

 juice. It is destroyed by thorough cooking of meat. Milk is 

 not coagulated, grape sugar is fermented, and a foul, sour odor 

 is produced in a culture. It liquefies gelatine. There are two 

 varieties of the germ, A and B, differing in the quality of the 

 toxin produced, both having the same physical and pathogenic 

 properties but developing different anti-toxins. 



Cultures. On gelatine plate, that contains sugar, colonies are 

 produced that are coarse and prickly in appearance. The lique- 

 faction of the gelatine is slow. Bouillon is rendered turbid. The 

 cultures resemble tetanus and malignant cedema. 



Pathogenesis. Its pathogenic action is marked, but only by 

 its toxin, which has a decided affinity for nervous tissue. The 

 toxin is absorbed from the intestinal tract unchanged by the 

 gastric juice. In this it differs from the toxin of diphtheria and 

 tetanus. If the toxin is mixed with the emulsified nerve tissue, 

 it becomes neutralized. In fatal cases of infection, the gan- 

 glionic nerve cells are degenerated. Man is very susceptible, 

 while cats and dogs are more or less non-susceptible. If bacilli 

 are inoculated into animals, they do not proliferate. A men- 

 ingitic disease of horses and limberneck of fowl are believed to 

 be due to this intoxication. Animals that recover are found 

 to have developed strong anti-toxin in the blood serum. 



Immunity. An artificially prepared anti-toxin has been found 

 to be active^ and is of use in treating cases of poisoning with meat. 

 The correctly typed anti-toxin should be used or that made by 

 artificial immunization with both varieties of bacilli. The latter 

 is now preferred since no rapid distinguishing clinical test of 

 types is available. 



