THE COLON-TYPHOID GROUP 135 



Growth. On potato a thick, moist, yellow-colored growth; 

 on agar a gray- white growth; on gelatin a growth similar to 

 typhoid. It can also develop on phenol-gelatin, and with- 

 stands a temperature of 45 C. 



Staining. Ordinary stains; does not take Gram. 



Pathogenesis. Inoculated into rabbits or guinea-pigs, 

 death follows in from one to three days, the symptoms being 

 those of diarrhea and coma; after death tumefactions of 

 Peyer's patches and other parts of the intestine ; perforations 

 into peritoneal cavity, the blood containing a large number of 

 bacilli. 



The colon bacillus by many writers is held responsible for 

 most of the complications of typhoid fever, such as peri- 

 tonitis, cholangitis, etc. 



Epidemics of a cholera or dysentery nature, called by Esche- 

 rich colitis contagiosa, and due to infection of water and food, 

 have been noted by a number of writers. The onset is very 

 sudden and prostrating, though not fatal. 



Many other forms of suppuration are associated with the 

 presence of Bacillus coli. 



It is supposed to give rise to cystitis, infecting the bladder 

 either through the urethra or the blood. The urine is then 

 acid. 



Distribution. The bacillus has been found very constant in 

 acute peritonitis and in cholera nostras. All normal persons 

 harbor the B. coli in the intestine, where, under ordinary con- 

 ditions, it produces no disturbance. After death it multiplies 

 rapidly, invading the tissues. 



In Water. The presence of B. coli in surface waters is 

 natural, owing to contamination with the fecal discharges of 

 man and other animals. In well-water its presence denotes 

 sewage or surface contamination, and such a well should be 

 condemned until free from coli. (See Water Analysis.) 



Bacillus of Typhoid or Enteric Fever (Eberth-Gaffky). 

 Origin. Eberth, in the year 1880, found this bacillus in 

 the spleen and lymphatic glands of persons dying of typhoid, 

 and Gaffky isolated and cultivated the organism four years 

 later. 



