276 IMPORTANT VARIETIES OF FISSION-FUNGI. 



contrary statements, is decolorized, as are all red pigments 

 of this group. In light it fades rapidly as well when 

 dry as when in solution. The pigment, spectroscopically, 

 is sharply characterized; more detailed communications 

 thereon will soon follow from this laboratory. 



(6) Olfactory and gustable materials: Especially upon 

 potato it forms methylamin and ammonia. According to 

 Schottelius, the odor is proportional to the pigment pro- 

 duction, but we found also colorless cultures with a marked 

 odor, as of herring. 



(c) Production of gas and acid from grape-sugar: Fairly 

 active, according to Schottelius and other authors; on the 

 contrary, our prodigiosum culture formed acid without 

 gas (but our kiliense formed gas). A prodigiosum iso- 

 lated by Cramer from the tap-water of Heidelberg also 

 formed no gas. Scheurlen demonstrated the production 

 of formic and succinic acids. 



(c) Urea is converted into carbonate of ammonia, but 

 not by all cultures. 



(e) Traces of indol, no H 2 S. 



Distribution. Upon cooked potatoes, moist bread, 

 paste, especially upon starchy substances, occurring epi- 

 demically often, especially in the late summer and autumn. 

 (Compare Scheurlen.) Cause of the "bleeding host." 

 Sometimes found in water-pipes. 



Pathogenic Significance. If injected alone, is not 

 pathogenic, but may be when combined with other bac- 

 teria, The proteins of the prodigiosum have been studied 

 many times and found to be poisonous. 



Varieties Identical with or Closely Related to the Bact. 

 prodigiosum. 



Bacterium kiliense. (Fischer and Breunig.) L. 



and N. 



(Plate 22.) 



Compare Kieler Wasserbacillus, Breunig, Dissertation, Kiel, 1888. 

 Laurent (A. P., 1890, 4G5; C. B. ix, 105). 



The culture which we vised for preparing illustrations (Plate 22) 

 is distinguished from the Bact. prodigiosum (Plate 21) by more of a 



