BACTERIUM COLI. 251 



We can find no sharp separation between these subvarieties in spite 

 of every effort to do so. Many descriptions are drawn up without any 

 reference as to how the variety being described is related to those next 

 to it, or the differential diagnosis is built upon one or another charac- 

 teristic whose inconstancy has long since been established either for the 

 colon group itself or even for other exhaustively studied groups (Micro- 

 coccus pyogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus lanceolatus, 



etc.). 



Bacterium coli, var. dysentericum Celli. Maggiora traced an 

 extensive epidemic of dysentery in northern Italy to the Bact. coli. 

 Arnaud candidly declared the Bact. coli to be the cause of dysentery 

 in hot countries. Celli (C. B. xvn, 309, and xxv, 481) found, as the 

 cause of dysentery in Italy, a form of the Bact. coli which he called 

 Bact. coli dysentericum, and which differs from the Bact. coli only in its 

 pathogenic properties and not in other peculiarities. It grows delicate- 

 ly, more like the Bact. typhi, and ferments grape-sugar and coagulates 

 milk slowly. With this the Bacillus dysenteries Shiga (C. B. xxm, 

 599, and xxiv, 818) may be considered identical. Both organisms, 

 in distinction to other coli forms, were agglutinated by the serum from 

 cases of dysentery. or from animals immunized against this form of Bact. 

 coli. Shiga gives an extensive review of the literature, with illustra- 

 tions; also a criticism of the works which advocate amebse as the cause 

 of dysentery. There is still a decided possibility that the clinical pic- 

 ture of dysentery, as especially Kruse and Pasquale suggest, is caused 

 by entirely different agents in separate epidemics. Literature relating 

 to the ameba question is given by Kruse and Pasquale (Z. H. xvi, 1) 

 and Fajardo (C. B. xix, 753), who consider amebse to be the cause of 

 tropical dysentery. Ciechanowski and Novak cannot convince them- 

 selves of the importance either of amebse or of forms of the Bact. coli; 

 for many cases certain streptococci appear to them to be primarily 

 responsible (C. B. xxiu, 445). Regarding the questions connected 

 with dysentery, consult also the critical review of the literature by 

 Janows'ki (C. B. xxi, 234). 



Bacillus enteritidis Gartner. Morphologically identical, flagella 

 unknown. According to Lubarsch, milk is coagulated, but it was 

 not observed by Gunther and Th. Smith. Cause of poisoning by meat; 

 even the broth prepared from the meat was also poisonous. (Kor- 

 resp. Blatter des arztlichen Vereins f iir Thiiringen, 1888, No. 9. ) 



Bacillus of Ferret Plague of Eberth. Bact. mustelicida Heim. 

 Corresponds, according to our investigations, in all respects to the 

 Bact. coli. It has four or five long, peritrichous flagella (C. B. V, 454, 

 and vi, 87). 



Bacterium brassiere acid re of Lehmann and Conrad. Found by 

 Conrad in many samples of sour-crout, and the cause of the fermenta- 

 tion of sour-crout. Has 4 to 10 very long, thin flagella. Often stains 

 slightly by Gram's method. It is differentiated by its production of 

 marsh-gas upon cabbage broth. Besides about 80^ CO 2 , there is 



and staining properties of the flagella. We should be glad to separate 

 the atrichous (Bact. aerogenes), peritrichous, and mono- and lopho- 

 trichous Bact. coli, if it had not been impossible to carry it out. 



