136 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [June, 



containing 5 per cent, glycerine the growth is more feeble, but the color 

 more intense. 



Gelatine (needle cultures). — Along the needle track the colonies de- 

 velop after 24 hours as minute grayish points. After several days they 

 attain to a diameter of ^ to ^ millimeter, spherical, granular, yellowish. 

 On the surface the growth is spreading, glistening, of a deep cadmium 

 yellow. The growth about the needle puncture appears in more or 

 less concentric bands. The outer bands also have a radiating appear- 

 ance, produced by alternate lighter and darker lines extending outward 

 from the more central portion. After about two weeks the growth be- 

 comes slightly depressed below the surface. 



In bouillon the growth is feeble. After 48 hours, at 36° C. the liquid 

 becomes clouded in the upper portion with a small quantity of a gray- 

 ish deposit formed on the side of the tube. It produces no change in 

 the appearance of milk. 



Sterile urine. — In this liquid the growth is abundant ; the liquid is 

 heavily clouded after 24 hours ; the reactions strongly alkaline. After 

 from two to three days a considerable quantity of sediment is formed in 

 the bottom of the tube. This germ is the most rapid in its transfor- 

 mation of acid into alkaline urine of any of the germs here described. 

 Under its influence acid urine will become decidedly alkaline in eight- 

 een hours. In acid bouillon containing urea the growth is vigorous. 

 In 24 hours the liquid is very cloudy and strongly alkaline in reaction. 

 In acid gelatine plus urea the growth is more feeble than on the ordi- 

 nary gelatine. It takes the Gram stain. 



Alicrococcus E. — A micrococcus varying from 0.9 ;/. to 1.5 ;/. in di- 

 ameter; average, 1.2 //.. It most usually occurs in small clumps and 

 in pairs. It is frequently found single, often in short chains. 



Agar (surface growth) at 36° C. — After 24 hours quite fleshy, round, 

 convex colonies appear, 1 millimeter in diameter when not crowded. 

 They are of a grayish yellow color, opaque. After several days the 

 growth becomes a much deeper yellow. The condensation water is 

 clear, with a viscid, flaky growth at the bottom. The surface growth 

 is not viscid. 



Gelatine. — The growth in this medium resembles that of the micro- 

 coccus B. It differs from it in the color of the membrane and sedi- 

 ment, which are cadmium yellow. 



In bouillon the growth is feeble. It does not produce any apparent 

 change in the appearance of milk. 



Sterile .urine. — The growth in this liquid is very slow. On the sec- 

 ond day after inoculation it becomes feebly alkaline, with the formation 

 of a granular deposit on the sides of the tube. In acid bouillon con- 

 taining urea the growth is more vigorous. After one day at 36° C. 

 the reaction becomes strongly alkaline, emitting a penetrating odor. It 

 liquefies acid gelatine containing urea very slowly. The liquefaction 

 does not extend more than three to five millimeters below the surface. 

 The liquid gelatine is strongly alkaline in reaction. This germ is 

 readily stained by the ordinary methods. It takes the Gram stain. 



The characteristic properties of these micrococci, especially their 

 reaction on nutrient gelatine, are more or less modified by cultivation. 

 Their power to break up urea, however, does not seem to be dimin- 

 ished. 



