458 MICKC-OEGAXISMS IN WATER 



BACTERIUM HYDROSULFUKEUM PONTICUM 



Authority. Z el in sky, k On Hydrosulphuric Fermentation in the Black Sea 

 and the Limans of Odessa,' Proceedings of the Russian Physical and 

 Chemical Society, vol. xxv., fasc. 5, 1893. 



Where Found. In ooze of Black Sea, from depths of 1207, 870, 389, 40 

 and 1(5 fathoms, obtained during the ' Zaporozhets ' expedition, 1891. 



Microscopic Appearance. Motile elongated rod. 



Cultures. 



AGAR-AGAR. Produces a dark coffee-coloured pigment, which blackens in 

 contact with air and gives rise to sulphuretted hydrogen. 



SPECIAL SOLUTION. Produces a considerable amount of sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen when cultivated for three days in the following solution : 1 per. cent, solution 

 of ammonium tartrate, 1 to 2 per cent, solution of grape-sugar, - to ^ per cent, 

 of hyposulphite of soda, O'l per cent, of potassium phosphate, and traces of 

 calcium chloride. Ammonium tartrate may be replaced by ammonium succi- 

 nate. Besides sulphuretted hydrogen, traces of ammonia and possibly amines 

 are noticed in the cultures. 



Remarks. It cannot grow in the presence of acids ; the medium, if neutral, is 

 rendered alkaline. It grows in albuminous media, but does not require considerable 

 amounts of albuminous matters for its growth, and can live without them under the 

 conditions existing in the Black Sea i nearly a constant temperature of 9 C. below 

 100 fathoms). It lives upon the cellulose of vegetable <!<'hrix, and abstracts the oxygen 

 of the salts of sulphur. It will also grow in media containing no sulphur of organic 

 origin, but sulphates and sulphites. As regards the production of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen and of annnoniacal compounds, it resembles the ' liman microbe' (ViLrio 

 hydrosuljiircns of Brnsilowsky), which produces sulphuretted hydrogen in even 

 larger quantities. It will gnnv under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In all 

 samples of this ooze cultivated in anaerobic conditions in an atmosphere of nitrogen 

 numerous micro-organisms were found which liberated sulphuretted hydrogen, but 

 the one here described was the most characteristic. (Prince Kropotkin kindly sup- 

 plied us with tlu> above translation from the original memoir, which appeared in 

 Piiis- 



BACTEIUI'M SULFUREUM 



I LIQUEFIES GELATINE 



Authority. Hoi schewnikoff, Fortschritte tier Mi-dicin.vol. vii. p. 202. 



Where Found. -In mud from the Wiesbaden filter-beds. 



Microscopic Appearance. Fine small bacilli, with rounded ends, about 0-"> ; u 

 broad and from Hi to 2*4 p. long. It moves slowly. 



Cultures.- 



GELATINE PLATES. To obtain satisfactory cultures it is best to cover the 

 plate with a film of sterilised oil. After forty-eight hours small, sharply cir- 

 cumscribed, dot-shaped colonies are visible, which on reaching the surface pro- 

 duce funnel-shaped slowly liquefying centres. The liquefaction proceeds so 

 slowly that the gelatine becomes evaporated, and finally small sharply defined 

 funnel-shaped depressions filled with air are formed. 



GELATINE TDBES. Produces small colonies in the depth, and whilst ;i 

 funnel-shaped depression commences from the surface downwards, slow lique- 

 faction takes place. In the presence of air the colour of the growth is white, 

 but in the absence of air no liquefaction follows, and a reddish brown or red 

 colour prevails. 



AGAR-AGAK. At 37 C. grows fairly rapidly in the form of a slimy grey 

 mass, in the interior of which the colour is pinkish or reddish brown. 



POTATOES. In the presence of air no growth appears ; in the absence of 

 air it forms a reddish brown expansion. 



MILK. After ten days, without any coagulation taking place, the casein is 

 dissolved. 



Remarks. Produces sulphuretted hydrogen, according to the nature of the cul- 

 ture material and atmospheric conditions. It produces in sterilised urine in the 

 absence of air large quantities of sulphuretted hydrogen. 



