BACTERIOLOGY OF REDDENED COD. 49 



with a lens, the pink of the thin layer looks red also. Growths taken 

 from gelatin and from agar and placed in both cold and hot alcohol 

 did not fade even when the alcohol was boiled; neither were they 

 affected by chloroform when treated in the same manner as in the 

 alcohol, nor when these were left for some days in the light. Weak 

 potassic hydrate and ammonia had no apparent effect, but weak acetic 

 acid caused the color to disappear in a short time. The viscous mass 

 from the fish was much more sensitive, as the color disappeared in 

 twenty-four hours in the light in alcohol and in chloroform, while 

 weak acetic acid caused the color to disappear in a short time. 



The organism is aerobic ; in stab cultures the growth tapers gradu- 

 ally from the surface to the bottom of the tube. Parallel lines of 

 growth were formed on both agar and gelatin plates, parts of which 

 were covered with sterilized cover glasses. Clean cut lines of growth 

 developed, stopping abruptly at the edge of the covers, no develop- 

 ment occurring under the cover. After some time the growth ran 

 around the edges of the covers, connecting the broken ends on either 

 side. This property is also seen in the lack of development of red- 

 ness on the fish cakes which were sealed in vacuum in tin boxes, no 

 red developing on the cakes which were free from red when sealed, 

 and on the cakes which had reddened no increase took place. 



A peculiarity which was noted on the fish and in the cultures was 

 that when tested with neutral litmus paper a slightly alkaline reac- 

 tion was obtained, but when phenolphthalein was used as an indicator 

 an acid reaction occurred. When these results were noted, fresh, 

 sensitive litmus paper was obtained, but the reaction was the same, 

 indicating that the litmus was not the proper indicator to use. 

 Dantec obtained a strongly alkaline reaction with litmus, but does not 

 state whether any other indicators were used. 



The organism stains readily, having been tested with Loffler's alka- 

 line methylene blue, carbol fuchsin, gentian violet, and other stock 

 stains. 



GROWTH IN VARIOUS MEDIA. 



Beef bouillon. The coccus grows well in feebly acid, neutral, or 

 feebly alkaline beef broth. It causes a slight cloudiness at first, the 

 liquid clearing, however, as a sediment forms, the pink color not 

 being perceptible for three weeks or more. Patches of growth form 

 on the surface, and later a thin ring of growth may develop. In 

 cultures three or four months old a thick, viscous, red sediment is 

 formed, which draws out into elastic threads. 



Milk. No perceptible change occurs in milk until the culture is 

 about a month old, when a pink ring forms, after which the ring 

 thickens and deepens in color somewhat, and a thin pink film forms on 

 the surface. 



59640 Bull. 13311 4 



