124 INFECTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 



to float on the surface of water. This greatly enhanced 

 growth of the gas-bacillus in animals fed upon sugar is 

 doubtless connected with the increased blood content 

 of the organism in glucose. It is paralleled by the 

 conditions which we find at autopsy in persons dying of 

 diabetes. I have tried to rid the body of its carbo- 

 hydrates by means of phlorhizin poisoning to such a 

 point that the growth of the gas-bacillus is impaired in 

 the incubation test, but have not succeeded in distinctly 

 altering the habitual bacteria. 



The selective action of the dead organism for B. aero- 

 genes capsulatus is certainly a striking feature. The in- 

 fusion of any faecal suspension means the introduction 

 of many varieties of living bacteria. Yet after a few 

 hours of incubation in the dead rabbit the number of 

 microorganisms in the blood has been narrowed either 

 to capsulatus alone or to capsulatus and one of two com- 

 panions often positive diplococci, sometimes spore- 

 bearing bacilli resembling capsulatus, but not positively 

 identified. A longer period of incubation usually elimi- 

 nates from the blood all organisms except those of the 

 capsulatus type. The initial bactericidal power of the 

 blood and cell juices may suffice to kill many of the bac- 

 teria of the faeces, while the strict anaerobic conditions, 

 so necessary to the multiplication of capsulatus, in itself 

 cuts out many varieties. 



It is believed that the more refined application of this 

 method to the study of the faeces will prove of clinical 

 value in several directions. It may also prove of utility 

 in the study of milk. If, as seems probable, B. aerogenes 



