60 STUDY AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA. 



Furthermore, it is motile, Gram negative and an anaerobe. The 

 guinea pig is very susceptible, and about the time of death and post- 

 mortem there may be seen long flexile motile filaments, 15 to 40^ long, 

 which move among the blood-cells as a serpent in the grass (Pasteur). 



In cultures it grows out very slightly from the line of stab, giving a 

 jagged granular line, differing from tetanus. Spores form best at 37 C. 

 requiring about 48 hours. It liquefies gelatin. In examining an 

 exudate from a suspected case, note the presence of spores centrally 

 situated. Inoculate a guinea-pig. Death occurs in about two days. 

 There is intense hemorrhagic emphysematous oedema at the site of 



FIG. 21. Bacillus of botulism. (Kolle and Wassermann.} 



inoculation. The subcutaneous tissue contains fluid and gas. There 

 is present the foul odor of an anaerobe. Examine for the long filaments 

 showing flowing motility. Be sure to stain by Gram. (Negative.) 

 For cultures, heat the material (either from a wound or from a guinea- 

 pig) which shows spores to a temperature of 80 C. for from 15 minutes 

 to one hour. Then inoculate glucose agar stab culture and grow 

 anaerobically. Courmont differentiates anthrax from malignant 

 oedema by injecting into ear vein of rabbit. The injection of malig- 

 nant cedema in this way, instead of subcutaneously, tends to immunize. 

 B. Botulinus (Van Ermengem, 1896). This is the organism 

 which produces botulism, a form of meat poisoning. It is a spore- 



