SPIRILLUM METSCHNIKOVL 265 



spirals, is formed on potato when grown at the body tempera- 

 ture. No indol is produced. 



The Spirillum Deneke is of absolutely no importance clin- 

 ically except for its resemblance to the cholera germ. It has 

 never been found in the secretions or excretions of either 

 man or animals. 



Spirillum Metschnikovi (Spirillum of Gamaleia). 



This organism was discovered in the excretions and intes- 

 tinal canal of chickens affected with a diarrhceaic disease epi- 

 demic in southern Russia during the summer months. 



Biology and morphology : The Spirillum Metschnikovi is 

 shorter, thicker, and more curved than the cholera spirillum. 

 It forms long chains and spirals, is motile, and possesses a 



FIG. 119. 



Spirillum Metschnikovi, from an agar-agar culture. X 1000. (Itzerott and 

 Niemann.) 



terminal flagellum. It does not form spores. It is only 

 feebly resistant to heat and chemicals. It grows at both the 

 body and the room temperatures : stains with all the anilin 

 dyes, but not with Gram. It is a facultative anaerobe. 



Gelatin plate colonies appear in about twelve hours as small 



