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BACILLUS CEDEMATIS MALIGNI. 



Pasteur. (1877). 



VIBRION SEPTIQUE OF PASTEUR. SYNONYMS OF MALIGNANT (EDEMA. 



SEPTICEMIE (Fr.); MALIGNES ocDEM (Germ.). 



Origin. From animals inoculated with garden soil; from 

 horse and from man (septicemie gangretieuse). 



Form. Rods about three times as long as wide, with rounded 

 ends; usually single, but may form threads, especially in the body. 

 In size, etc., resembles the bacillus of S. anthrax ; is narrower than 

 anthrax bacillus. 



Motility. Actively motile. Show lateral flagella; also giant 

 whips (NovY). 



Sporulation. In bouillon and agar, spores appear in 24 hrs. 

 The best temperature is about 37 C. The spores are median or 

 nearly so, with corresponding enlargement of the parent cell. 



Anilin Dyes. React readily. Is stained by Gram's method. 

 Spores stain double. 



Growth Is very rapid, especially on glucose media. Requires 

 anaerobic conditions. 



Plates. On gelatin, colonies develop in 2-3 days, and under the micro- 

 scope resemble those of the Hay bacillus. As they become larger gas bubbles 

 form. On agar plates at 37 the colonies appear as an irregular, dense net- 

 work of threads. 



&lich Cultures. In gelatin, growth occurs in the lower part of the tube; 

 the gelatin is liquefied, gas given off and the growth settles on the bottom. 

 Agar cultures are torn into several parts by the gas which is formed. In the 

 liquid on the bottom of the tube, giant whips can be found by staining. 



Streak Cultures. On agar, offer no special characteristics. Grows on 

 potatoes without forming a scum. 



Bouillon. Becomes cloudy, and in 1-2 days the growth settles on the 

 bottom as a low, adherent sediment, and in a few days the liquid becomes clear. 



Glucose gelatin, colored with litmus. In air at 37 C. is liquefied and 

 litmus first reduced, then in presence of oxygen Becomes red acid production. 



Milk. Develops a good growth; a part of the casein is precipitated. 

 Starch is not changed to sugar. 



Oxygen requirements. Is an obligative anaerobe. Grows in 

 vacuum, hydrogen, carbonic acid, etc. 



Temperature. Growth is best at the temperature of the body. 

 Can grow at ordinary temperature. 



Behavior to Gelatin Liquefies. 



Aerogenesis. On glucose media, especially when distinctly 

 alkaline, it gives rise to the production of gas. 



Attenuation. Bouillon cultures retain virulence for months. 



Immunity. One attack of malignant (edema does not protect 

 against a second. 100 c. c. of heated or filtered cultures injected 

 into guinea-pigs in three portions confers immunity ; 6-8 c. c. of the 

 serous exudate accomplish the same result. 



Pathogenesis, Rabbit susceptible distinction from sympto- 

 matic anthrax. The horse, hog, dog, cat, chicken, dove, guinea- 

 pig and mice are susceptible. Cattle are immune. Subcutaneous 

 inoculation in guinea-pigs of % c - c - or more of bouillon culture 

 produces death in about 24 hours. Marked subcutaneous, spread- 

 ing, reddish oedema. Bacilli present, single or in threads, in subcu- 

 taneous tissue, serous surfaces as peritoneum, etc. ; scarce in the 

 blood. 25-30 c. c. of the filtered bouillon culture, injected subcu- 

 taneously, kills guinea-pigs. 



Infection. Takes place exclusively by inoculation through 

 wounds. Poisoned arrows of the New Hebrides. Rag-picker's 

 disease. 



