SÉANCE DU 16 NOVEMBRE 1075 



that they remain viable in this médium for a considérable length of time, 

 certainly longer than the accepted twoweeks. 



In praclical use in our labqratory, in Base Hospitals and in Evacuation 

 Hospitals comprising a séries of at least 700 wound examinations ithas 

 been found to be a satisfactory médium for demonstrating not only 

 streptococci but also anaerobes from war wounds. The pus is inocu- 

 lated into the liver peptone tubes and from the Ihird hour on an hourly 

 examination is made of a hanging drop of the incubated seeded médium 

 for the présence of streptococci. If streptococci are présent chain for- 

 mation will certainly appear within 4 to 6 hours ; with the appearance 

 of chainsa bloodagar plate is seeded for the isolation and détermination 

 of its hcemolytic properties. Beginning with the twelfth hour the 

 seeded tube of liver peptone médium is examined macroscopically for 

 the appearance of minute bubbles of gas and microscopically for the 

 présence of a non-motile, en-capsulated Gram positive bacillus with 

 square ends which is arranged in pairs or in the form of a V. In our 

 expérience an organism having thèse characteristicshas always proved 

 to be a B. Welchii. A blackening of the liver with a foui odor indicates 

 the présence of either B. sporogenes or B. putri ficus — the former early 

 forms numerous oval spores which are usually subterminal while the 

 latter is a diplobacillus with round ends forming terminal (drumstick) 

 spores. The liver also shows digestion of the interlobular conneclive 

 tissue. At a somewhat later period the clostridium (lemon-shaped) 

 central spores of the Vibrion septique or the subterminal, large oval 

 (racket-shaped) spores of the B. œdematiens may be found. Filament 

 formation is usually characteristic of the Vibrion septique, while the 

 chains and curved forms of the B. œdematiens are often well observed 

 in this médium. A familiarity with the morphology and type of spores 

 of the varions pathogenic anaerobes of war wounds will frequently 

 allow a tentative diagnosis to be made within 24 hours to 48 hours. It 

 is not suggested that a final definite diagnosis of types of anaerobçs 

 présent in wounds can be made in this manner but much valuable infor- 

 mation can be arrived at quickly and of suffîcient extent to serve the 

 purpose of the surgeon. 



This médium bas also been used as an enriching médium for the 

 early isolation of the Streptococcus. Its anaerobic nature is particulary 

 demonstrable with cultures of the B. pyocyaneous which .grows fairly 

 well in this médium, but produces its characteristic green pigmentation 

 only in theupper 1/2 millimeter, and this pigment does not diffuse down 

 into the depthsof the médium evenaftertwo weeks cultivation, although 

 a controltube of beef or veal infusion broth shows complète diffusion of 

 the pigment after several day's cultivation. 



Biologie. Comptes rendus. — 1918. T. LXXXI. 73 



