THE PROTEUS GROUP OF BACTERIA 129 



E. Levy found the proteus to be the cause of a haemorrhagic gastro- 

 enteritis which appeared in seventeen persons after partaking of decom- 

 posed meat. 



According to Booker, the proteus vulgaris plays an important part in 

 the production of the morbid symptoms characteristic of cholera infan- 

 tum. It was found in the alvine discharges of affected infants, but not 

 in those of healthy infants. The prominent symptoms in the cases 

 where the proteus was found were drowsiness, stupor, emaciation, more 

 or less collapse, frequent vomiting and purging, with watery and 

 generally offensive stools. 



Bacteriological Diagnosis. Plate cultures are prepared from 

 the pus, from the ichorous phlegmons, and also from the urine 

 obtained under sterile precautions from the patients affected with 

 Weil's disease. 



(2) PROTEUS MIRABILIS. 



Microscopical Appearance. Rods of various lengths, the 

 smallest being about 0'6 /x in length. 



Spore Formation absent. 



Biological Characters. On Gelatine Plates the deep-lying colonies 

 exhibit curiously formed, twisted zooglrea masses. The surface colonies 

 occasionally form the swarming islands like the Proteus vulgaris. The 

 gelatine is liquefied slowly. 



(3) PROTEUS ZENKERI. 



Microscopical Appearance. Bacilli 0'4 /* broad, and averaging 

 1-6 {J. long. 



Spore Formation absent. 



Biological Characters. It occasionally forms swarming islands, like 

 the Proteus mirabilis ; but the gelatine is not liquefied. 



BACILLUS MALLEI. 



(The Glanders Bacillus ; Ger. Rotzbacillus ; Fr. Bac. de la Morve.) 



This organism was discovered by Loifler and Schutz in 1882 in 

 the diseased tissues of animals affected with glanders. It was isolated 

 in pure cultures, which, when inoculated into susceptible animals, 

 reproduced the disease with all its clinical and pathological manifesta- 

 tions. 



Microscopical Appearances. Short rods, 2 to 3 p. long, 0-2 to 

 0-4 //, thick, with rounded or slightly pointed ends, generally occurring 

 in single rods, sometimes in pairs, and very seldom in long filaments. 



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