NON-PATHOGENIC MICROCOCCI. 607 



205. DIPLOCOCCUS ALBICANS TARDissiMUS (Eisenberg). 



Synonym. Milk-white micrococcus (Bumm). 



Found in secretions from the vagina and cervix, especially in the vaginal 

 secretions of puerperal women. 



Morphology. Diplococci resembling the " gonococcus, " and consisting 

 of two biscuit-shaped halves separated by a cleft which is not as broad as 

 that seen in Micrococcus gonorrhcese; the diameter, from pole to pole, 

 averages about 1.25 fi. In unstained preparations the cleft is not seen and 

 the diplococci appear as spherical, highly refractive bodies. 



Biological Characters. An aerobic and facultative anaerobic, non- 

 liquefying micrococcus. Grows very slowly at the room temperature in the 

 usual culture media. Upon gelatin plates forms extremely small, puncti- 

 form colonies, which under a low power are seen to be spherical, opaque, 

 and brownish-green in color; at the end of two weeks they may attain a dia- 

 meter of two millimetres. In gelatin stick cultures small, isolated, gray- 

 ish-white colonies are developed, after some days, along the line of puncture, 

 and a thin, whitish, stearin-like layer with irregularly dentate margins is 

 slowly developed upon the surface. Upon the surface of agar a thin, 

 moist, grayish-white layer with dentate margins is slowly developed. 



206. DIPLOCOCCUS ALBICANS TAKDUS (Unna). 



Found upon the surface of the body in individuals having eczema se- 

 borrhoeicum. 



Morphology. Diplococci consisting of two oval elements, with the long 

 diameters in parallel planes, from 0.7 to 0.8 /* long and 0.6 /* broad; often 

 associated in short chains or in irregular groups. 



Biological Characters. An aerobic, non-liquefying micrococcus. Grows 

 slowly in the usual culture media at the room temperature. Upon gelatin 

 plates the deep colonies are usually oval, dark-yellow, and at the end of 

 eight days are as large as a mustard seed. The superficial colonies are cir- 

 cular in outline, with well-defined margins, elevated, grayish-yellow, and 

 at the end of eight days one to two millimetres in diameter ; under a low 

 power they are seen to be granular, grayish-yellow, with shining margins ; 

 at the end of five weeks they are gray and present two or three zones of dif- 

 ferent dimensions, with an elevated circular centre and finally with thin, 

 slimy, dentate margins ; under the microscope finely granular projections 

 are seen upon the sm-face. In gelatin stick cultures, at the end of three 

 weeks, a thin, waxy-looking, yellowish-white layer with finely dentate mar- 

 gins develops upon the surface and a scanty growth has occurred along the 

 line of puncture. At the end of five weeks this superficial layer may have 

 a diameter of one centimetre. Upon the surface of agar, at the end of five 

 weeks, a yellowish-gray streak with irregular, dentate margins and a dull 

 lustre is formed along the line of inoculation. 



207. STAPHYLOCOCCUS ALBUS LIQUEFACIENS. 



Synonym. White liquefying staphylococcus (Escherich). 



Found occasionally in the alvine discharges of healthy infants. 



Morphology. Micrococci of from 0.8 to 1.2 M in diameter, occasionally 

 oval in form and three V- in long diameter ; associated in irregular groups 

 considerably larger than Staphylococcus pyogenes albus. 



Biological Characters. An aerobic, liquefying micrococcus. Grows 

 in the usual culture media at the room temperature. Upon gelatin plates 

 forms spherical, white colonies, which after some time cause a gradual 

 liquefaction of the surrounding gelatin. In gelatin stick cultures a scanty 

 development is seen along the line of puncture at the end of three to four 

 days, and gradual liquefaction of the gelatin occurs in funnel form ; the 

 liquefied gelatin is viscid, of syrupy consistence, and slightly clouded; he 



