BACTERIA, NOT CLASSIFIED. 711 



described (No. 440) in a solution containing salts of ammonia, the ' ' nitro- 

 monas" takes theprecedence ; and, according to Winogradsky, when the oxi- 

 dation of the ammonia is completed this ferment ceases to absorb oxygen 

 and enters into a state of repose, while the nitrifying bacillus commences to 

 multiply and to exercise its special ferment action. 



442. STREPTOCOCCUS CONGLOMERATE (Kurth). 



Obtained by Kurth (1890) from cases of scarlet fever. 



Morphology. As obtained from bouillon cultures it consists of masses 

 made up of chains of cocci ; free chains are only occasionally seen. 



Biological Characters. This streptococcus is said to differ from Strepto- 

 coccus pyogenes and various other previously described streptococci by the 

 fact that in bouillon cultures, at a temperature of 37 C. , it forms at the bot- 

 tom of the tube smooth, round, and very firm white scales, or a single flat 

 layer which is not disintegrated when the tube is slightly agitated ; other 

 streptococci are said to form a loose deposit which is either entirely broken, 

 up or forms viscid threads when the tube is gently rotated. 



Pathogenesis. Very pathogenic for mice. 



443. BACILLUS THALASSOPHILUS (Russell). 



Obtained by Russell (1891) from mud at the bottom of the Gulf of Na- 

 ples. 



Morphology. A slender bacillus, varying greatly in length, which grows 

 out into filaments which are not visibly segmented. 



Stains with ZiehFs solution when obtained from a recent culture, but 

 not by Loffler's solution or fuchsin. 



Biological Characters. An anaerobic, liquefying, motile bacillus.. 

 Forms spores, which are very small and are located at the middle or the 

 ends of the rods. Grows at the room temperature in the absence of oxygen. 

 In nutrient gelatin, prepared with sea water, at the end of two or three 

 days colonies appear at the bottom of the line of puncture in the form of 

 small, clouded bubbles; later other colonies develop above these, forming- 

 finally a long, irregular, grayish, semi-transparent, liquid, sac-like mass. 

 At the upper portion of this sac gas accumulates. The gelatin is now rap- 

 idly liquefied, except above, the liquefaction extending to the walls of the tube. 

 Finally the entire amount of gelatin is liquefied, and becomes clear above 

 from the deposition of the bacilli at the bottom of the tube, w r here they 

 form a thick, sticky mass. The cultures give off a penetrating, disagree- 

 able odor. In gelatin between double plates colonies first appear at the- 

 end of two or three days ; under a low power these show a very thin net- 

 work of filaments, which penetrate the gelatin in all directions. Much 

 gas is developed in the colonies, and when the upper plate is lifted an odor 

 of skatol is given off. The colonies soon become confluent and the gelatin 

 is entirely liquefied. In agar a scanty development occurs along the line of 

 puncture to within two centimetres of the surface. 



444. BACILLUS GRANULOSUS (Russell). 



Obtained by Russell (1891) from the mud at the bottom of the Gulf of 

 Naples; common, even at a depth of 1,100 metres. 



Morphology. In hanging-drop cultures this bacillus grows out into long, 

 slender filaments, made up of tolerably large bacilli having a thick cell wall 

 and finely granular protoplasmic contents. In older cultures the long fila- 

 ments are broken up into shorter, irregular fragments, and the separate seg- 

 ments are seen as short, thick rods with coarsely granular contents. Upon 

 agar and potato the development of filaments is irregular and they break up 

 into a grape-like mass. These masses, which might be taken for involution 



