578 ANAEROBIC ORGANISMS IN GANGRENE 



organism and grows on the ordinary media even at the temperature of the 

 laboratory. Cultures remain alive for a long time and give off an odour of 

 rotten eggs. 



Colonies on agar and gelatin are characterized by their intense black 

 colour : gelatin is not liquefied. 



IX. STAPHYLOCOCCUS PARVULUS. 



This organism was isolated by Veillon and Zuber from pus from a case 

 of appendicitis and has since been found in appendicitis, in cases of pulmonary 

 gangrene (Guillemot), in cases of infection of the urinary tract (Cottet, 

 Jungano), and in the mouths of very young children (Micrococcus gazogenes 

 alcalescens of Lewkowicz). 



The organism is only slightly pathogenic for laboratory animals ; it gives 

 rise to an abscess when inoculated sub-cutaneously into rabbits and guinea- 

 pigs (Veillon and Rist). 



Microscopical appearance. The Staphylococcus parvulus is a very delicate 

 coccus smaller than the Stapliylococcus py(>genes and arranged in diplococci 

 or in masses. 



Staining reactions. The Stapliylococcus parvulus stains feebly with methy- 

 lene blue ; the best stain is carbol-fuchsin. It is gram -negative. 



Cultural characteristics. The coccus grows anaerobically on all media, and 

 at the ordinary temperature but better at 37 C. It produces a little gas. 

 Broth becomes cloudy and a dust-like deposit is formed. Cultures on agar 

 and gelatin are in no way characteristic. Gelatin is not liquefied. 



X. MICROCOCCUS FETIDUS. 



This organism was found by Veillon in pus from cases ot gangrene, by Rist 

 in cases of suppuration of the ear, by Guillemot and Cottet in cases of pul- 

 monary gangrene, by Jeannin in cases of putrid puerperal infection, and by 

 Halle in the vagina, in pus from Bartholin's glands, etc. 



It is pathogenic for rabbits and especially for guinea-pigs which succumb 

 in a few days after sub-cutaneous inoculation. 



Microscopical appearance. The organism occurs as single cocci or as cocci 

 arranged as diplococci, and occasionally it forms small masses. Tn cultures 

 the diplococci are arranged in very short chains of three or four diplococci. 



Staining reactions. The Micrococcus fetidus stains easily with the basic 

 aniline dyes and is gram-positive. 



Cultural characteristics. The Micrococcus fetidus grows anaerobically on 

 all the ordinary media between 22 and 37 C. : at 22 C. the growth is poor 

 and small in amount. In artificial culture it produces very fetid smelling 

 gases. In broth it gives rise to an uniform turbidity ; isolated colonies on 

 agar are small and round and are not particularly characteristic. Growth 

 on gelatin at 22 C. is slow and scanty ; the medium is not liquefied. 



XI. BACILLUS AEROBICUS SEPIS. 



Legros has recorded two cases of gaseous gangrene in man which were caused by 

 an aerobic bacillus to which he has given the name Bacille septique aerobic. Haute" 

 found the same organism associated with staphylococci and streptococci in a case 

 of puerperal infection and also in a case of appendicitis. 



The bacillus is a rod- shaped organism with rounded ends, motile, straight or 

 slightly curved and measuring about 3/x x 0'5-1/j-, and sometimes occurs as short 



