GASEOUS (EDEMA BACILLUS 2OI 



occurs best in sugar bouillon, which becomes strongly acid. In 

 milk the growth is rapid and luxuriant; the proteids are coagu- 

 lated. Anaerobic conditions must be observed. On potato it 

 grows well, producing bubbles in the water which may cover 

 the potato in the tube. The growth appears thin, moist, and 

 grayish-white. 



Pathogenesis. The pathogenic properties of this organism are 

 limited. It is not able to endure the oxygen of the circulating 

 blood. Grows best in old clots, and in the uterus. It produces 

 gas rapidly in some cases of abortion and in peritonitis in man, 

 which is quickly followed by death. It causes gaseous phleg- 

 mons in guinea pigs, and injection are usually fatal to birds. 

 In man infection has followed wounds, and delivery of the child 

 in puerperal cases. It produces in fatal cases the condition 

 known as frothy organs " Schaumorgane. " It may be isolated 

 from infected matter, faeces, etc., by injecting the latter into a 

 rabbit's vein and then killing the animal. The carcass is then 

 placed in an incubator and an enormous growth of the organisms 

 follows; anaerobic conditions favorable to growth are obtained 

 in the body so that gas distention of the tissues results; from the 

 latter pure cultures are easily obtained. 



Vincents Angina is due to an anaerobic organism of two stages, 

 as Bacillus fusiformis and Spirochata wncenti. The bacillus is a 

 fusiform irregularly staining pointed rod, 3-12/4 long by .3-.8/* 

 wide. Under cultivation it grows out into forms such as are seen 

 with it in smears from the diseased throat, that is, long, wavy, 

 uniformly stained, flexible, pointed ended spirals. The bacillus 

 forms endospores chiefly at the end. Obligate anaerobe, requir- 

 ing serum, ascitic fluid or glycerine. Colonies delicate and 

 whitish. Gas in glucose media. Litmus milk only decolorized. 

 Gives a foetid odor on all cultures. No specific immunity reac- 

 tions known. 



These same spirals have been found in abundance in many 

 cases of ulcerative stomatitis, notably the variety which became 



