140 BACTERIA 



Oxygen Requirements. It grows very well in the presence of 

 oxygen, and poorly without it. 



Cultures. Grows well on all common cul-ture media. On gela- 

 tine plates its growth is characterized by small white colonies, 

 elevated, with sharp outlines. It does not liquefy the gelatine. On 

 agar it grows even more luxuriantly than on gelatine. In bouillon 

 it thrives well, depositing a heavy precipitate. In milk it causes 

 coagulation after four days. On potato it also grows, leaving a 

 silvery streak where the inoculating needle was drawn. 



Chemical Activities. It produces acid in sugar bouillon, but 

 does not form gas, indol, or H 2 S. 



Habitat. Has never been found outside the human body; is 

 normally present in the saliva, sputum of tuberculous subjects, in 

 the cavities of phthisical lungs, and in abscesses. 



Pathogenesis. While causing a fatal septicaemia in mice, and 

 abscesses in rabbits, it is not of much moment from a pathological 

 standpoint, though it plays an important role in secondary infection 

 in phthisis. 



BACILLUS OF MALTA FEVER. 



Bacterium Melitensis. 



Micrococcus Melitensis. 



Bacillus of Malta Fever. 



Coccus of Malta Fever. 



An organism belonging somewhere between the Coccacae and 

 Bacteriacae. It is small, oval-shaped, and of about .5/1 diameter, 

 occurring in culture singly, in pairs, or in chains. In the latter 

 form, the organism elongates and resembles, more strongly, bacilli. 

 It is non-motile and it has no spores. Stains faintly with the com- 

 mon basic dyes, but not by Gram's method. It has been found in 

 the blood during life, and by splenic puncture. 



Cultures. On gelatine its growth is slow, without liquefaction. 

 On agar the growth, at 37 C, is more rapid. The colonies are 



