HEMOLYTIC STAPHYLOCOCCI 13 



Berman and Rettger 16 pointed out, in tests in which buffers are 

 employed proteolytic enzymes appear as soon in sugar mediums as in 

 plain broth. And in serum broth, the buffer qualities of serum cannot 

 be denied. 



IT. RELATIONSHIP OF HEMOLYTIC ACTIVITY TO OTHER 

 METABOLIC ACTIVITIES 



This part of the investigation concerns itself with a study of the 

 biochemical reactions of the staphylococci, particularly as possible rela- 

 tions to hemolysis. Although, as the evidence submitted will show, 

 hemolysis appears to be a separate entity from the biochemical reactions 

 pursued, some new points of interest have been added to the literature 

 of the hemolytic staphylococci. 



CHROMOGENESIS 



Except in a general way, a distinction of the chromogenic varieties 

 of the staphylococci is an insignificant one. The pigment produced by 

 bacteria is influenced to a greater or less extent by the medium employed 

 for its production, and can be greatly modified by selection or by 

 previous environment. Loeffler's serum medium, for example, without 

 affecting the inherent power of chromogenesis always accentuates the 

 depth of color produced by staphylococci. Pigment will vary with the 

 amount of oxygen, the amount of moisture available, and the age of the 

 culture. 



So Neisser and Lipstein 17 offer the hypothesis that white cocci were origi- 

 nally orange cocci which have lost their chromogenic power. Rodet and Cour- 

 mont 18 published the observation of the transformation of a white staphylo- 

 coccus to an aureus and subsequently to a white again. Lubinski 19 showed that 

 the orange forms lost their pigment when grown anaerobically; in some cases 

 the recovery was delayed and in other cases the loss was permanent. Kolle 

 and Otto 20 stated that chromogenic cocci lose their chromogenesis by heating 

 to 85 C., by prolonged cultivation on artificial mediums, and by repeated ani- 

 mal passage. Winslow and Rogers 21 showed that a temperature of 50-55 C. 

 may cause a loss in chromogenesis. 



Neisser and Wechsberg showed that strains of both Staphylococcus albus 

 and Staphylococcus aureus would produce hemolysins. This was later cor- 

 roborated by both Kutscher and Konrich 22 and Koch. 23 Noguchi 24 and Rosen- 



16 Jour. Bact., 1918, 3, p. 389. 



17 Handbuch. d. pathog. Mikroorganismen, 1914, 3, p. 105. 



18 Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., 1890, 9, p. 186. 

 18 Centralbl. f. Bakteriq^., 1894, 16, p. 769. 



20 Ztschr. f. Hyg. u. Infektionskr., 1902, 41, p. 369. 



21 Jour. Infect. tDis., 1906, 3, p. 485. 



22 Zetschr. f. Hyg. u. Infektionskr., 1904, 48, p. 249. 

 Ibid., 1907, 58, p. 287. 



24 Arch. f. klin. Chir., 1911, 96, p. 696. 



