GASEOUS CEDEMA BACILLUS 



GASEOUS (EDEMA BACILLUS 



199 



Bacillus Capsulatus Aerogenes. Welch. 



This description covers those organisms sometimes described 

 under the title Bac. perfringens and Bac. enteriditis sporogenes; 

 they are in all probably but variants from this type. Other 

 types with slight variations in chemical action and toxin produc- 



FIG. 59. B. Aerogenes capsulatus of Welch, in smear. (Williams.) 



tion were noted during the war. It is this group which was 

 responsible for gas infection during the great European War. 



Morphology and Stains. A vigorous plump bacillus 3 to 47* in 

 length, resembling the anthrax bacillus, and is usually straight. 

 It forms spores, is non-motile, and flagella have not been found. 

 It occurs in pairs, and in chains. In old cultures involution forms 

 are seen. Spores are generally equatorially situated. Is colored 



