1891.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 137 



I have examined, after the methods previously described, twelve 

 specimens of urine. Of these seven contained only the micrococcus A, 

 two the micrococcus c, one the micrococci a and b, one the micrococci 

 B and D, and one the microcCTCci A, c, and e. Eight of the specimens 

 were taken from the same individual, six of which contained (of the 

 germs described) the micrococcus a only, and two the micrococcus c. 

 The other four specimens, one of which contained only the micrococcus 

 A, were obtained from four other individuals. 



In addition to the above, one specimen of urine from a person suffer- 

 ing with cystitis was examined. The urine was clouded, strongly al- 

 kaline in reaction, and contained a considerable quantity of crystals, 

 principally triple phosphates, pus cells, and amorphous salts. A large 

 number of micrococci were seen in a cover-glass preparation. The 

 bacteriological examination showed that a large number of these were 

 the micrococcus a. Thus far this is the only specimen of urine from 

 an authentic case of cystitis that I have been able to obtain in a condi- 

 tion suitable for a bacteriological examination. 



I have also isolated several germsfrom external sources that are equally 

 as active in the production of ammoniacal fermentation as those already 

 described. Two of these, a bacillus and micrococcus, were obtained 

 from decomposed urine that was previously sterilized and then exposed 

 to the atmosphere of the laboratory by removing the cotton-wool stop- 

 pers from the tubes containing it. The sterile, acid urine became 

 clouded and alkaline in from three to five days. A second bacillus was 

 obtained by inoculating a tube of sterile urine with several drops (about 

 I c. c.) of Potomac water and allowing it to stand in an incubator, where 

 it became clouded and alkaline in twenty-four hours. The bacillus was 

 isolated from the other germs by means of plate cultures. A micro- 

 coccus was also found in saliva which is arranged in fours (tetracoccus) 

 that is very active in transforming urea into carbonate of ammonia. 

 These germs have not as yet been carefully studied, and their isolation 

 is mentioned here in order to illustrate the general distribution of bac- 

 teria possessing this property, and to confirm similar results obtained 

 by other workers in this line. 



Soluble Ferments. — In the last decade Musculus (9) announced 

 the discovery of a soluble ferment which he obtained from ammoniacal 

 urine that would, when introduced into fresh urine, transform its urea 

 into carbonate of ammonia. The name urase was proposed for this 

 substance, as it was supposed to belong to the same class of ferments as 

 ptyaline, diastase, etc. The method of isolating this ferment was re- 

 ported by Musculus to be one of simple precipitation. The results, 

 however, that have been reported by others who have attempted to 

 isolate this substance have been, so far as I can learn, negative in char- 

 acter. P. Miquel, after a long series of experiments, in many of which 

 the method of Musculus was carefully carried out, concludes with Prof. 

 Leube, that the existence of a soluble ferment in urine is not sufficiently 

 proven to be accepted without further demonstration. Thus far I have 

 made no experiments for the purpose of isolating a soluble ferment. 

 The question whether or not there is such a ferment will have to remain 

 unanswered, together with many other interesting questions that these 

 preliminary investigations have suggested until other and more extended 

 observations shall be made. 



