MICROCOCCUS CATARRHALIS 249 



within the polymorphonuclear leucocytes. It is Gram-negative. 

 The primary generation develops feebly on agar, but subsequent 

 generations grow fairly well, forming whitish translucent colonies. 

 Blood or ascitic media should be used for isolation. Some of the 

 fermentation reactions and a comparison with other Gram-negative 

 cocci are given in the table on page 248. 



Micrococcus tetragenus 



This organism is frequently met with in phthisical cavities and 

 may be expectorated in the sputum, and has also been found in 

 the pus of acute abscesses. The cells occur singly (diameter 1 /*), 

 in pairs, or in fours, and are enclosed within a capsule. It stains 

 with the ordinary anilin dyes and also by Gram's method. On 

 gelatin it develops slowly, with the formation of a thick, white, 

 shining growth without liquefaction. On agar the growth has much 

 the same characters, and on potato is white and viscous. Inoculated 

 into animals, particularly mice, a local abscess may form, but usually 

 a fatal general infection ensues, and the organism is found in the 

 blood and organs. 



A few cases of general infection in man have been described. 



Sarcina ventriculi 



An organism occurring in the contents of the stomach, especially 

 in cases of dilated stomach. Originally described by Goodsir in 

 1842. 



It occurs as a large ovoid cell, several of which are grouped 

 together quadrilaterally so as to form more or less cubical masses, 

 the so-called " woolpacks." According to Falkenheim, it forms on 

 gelatin in thirty-six to forty-eight hours roundish, prominent 

 colonies of a yellowish colour, and in neutral hay infusion a brownish 

 film and flocculi. It produces an acid reaction. 



Other sarcinse also occur in the stomach. 



Clinical examination. 1. The organism can be detected in the 

 vomit, etc., most readily by examination in the fresh state, a little 

 of the material being placed on a slide, diluted with water if neces- 

 sary, irrigated or not with iodine solution, covered with a cover- 

 glass, and examined. 



2. Film preparations may be stained with weak carbol fuchsin, 

 or by Gram's method. 



