BACILLI 427 



BACILLUS FLUOKESCENS LIQUEFACIENS (Fliigge) 



I LIQUEFIES G ELAT1NE | 



Authority. Fliigge, Die Mikroorganismen, 1886, p. 289 ; also described by 

 Eisenberg, Bakteriologische Diagnostik, 1891, p. 75 ; A. Eugen Fick, Ueber 

 Microorganismen im Conjunctival-Sack, Wiesbaden, 1887, p. 39 ; Percy Frank- 

 land (B. viscosus), Zeitschrift f. Hygiene, vol. vi., 1889, p. 391 ; Petruschky, 

 ' Bakterio-chemische Untersuchungen,' Centralblatt f. Bakteriologie, vol. vii., 

 1890, p. 3 ; Ward, Proc. Boy. Soc., vol. liii., 1893, p. 288. Probably also identical 

 with the B. fiuorescens nivalis found in ice -water and described by Schmolck, 

 Centralblatt f. Baktcriologie, vol. iv. p. 544. 



Where Found. This organism, or slight variations of it, has been perhaps 

 more frequently found in water than any other form. Fick found it also in the 

 conjunctival secretion of a patient from whom a cataract had been removed. 



Microscopic Appearance. Very short bacillus, about 1 to 1-5 n long and 

 O5 n broad ; occurs chiefly in pairs, and exhibits a constriction in the middle. 

 It is very motile. No spore formation observed. 



Cultures. 



GELATINE PLATES. Small white dots in the depth ; on the surface they ex- 

 pand, reaching sometimes 3mm. across, and after forty-eight hours the gelatine 

 becomes liquefied and a well-defined circular depression is formed. Under a 

 low power the brown dotted centre is surrounded by a yellow granular zone, 

 which becomes grey white towards the edge. The whole gelatine assumes 

 gradually a green fluorescence. 



GELATINE TUBES. In the path of the needle there is a whitish growth, 

 whilst a funnel-shaped depression containing liquid gelatine forms on the sur- 

 face ; the liquefaction gradually stretches across the tube, and finally the whole 

 contents are fluid and of a fluorescent green colour, whilst a thick white deposit 

 collects. 



POTATOES. Produces a brownish expansion. 



MILK. Precipitates the casein and completely peptonises it. Yields an acid 

 reaction (Ward, loc. cit.). 



Remarks. It is not pathogenic (Ward, loc. cit.). 



Note. The characteristic viscid nature of its growth in broth, gelatine, and agar, 

 which was so noticeable that the name viscosus was given to it, appears either to have 

 escaped the notice of other observers or to have been absent in the cultures of the 

 organisms described by them. (Percy Fraiikland.) 



