BACILLI 427 



BACILLUS FLUOEESCENS LIQUEFACIENS (Fliigge) 



LIQUEFIES GELATINE 



Authority. — Fliigge, Die Mikroorganismen, 1886, p. 289 ; also described by 

 Eisenberg, Bakteriologische Diagnostik, 1891, p. 75 ; A. Eugen Fick, Ueher 

 Microorgamsmen im Conjwnctival-Sack, Wiesbaden, 1887, p. 39 ; Percy Frank- 

 land (B. viscosus), ZeitscTwift f. Hygiene, vol. vi., 1889, p. 391 ; Petruschky, 

 * Bakterio-cheniische Untersuchungen,' Gentralhlatt f. BakteriologiCj Yol. vii., 

 1890, p. 3 ; Ward, Proc. Boy. Soc, vol. liii., 1893, p. 288. Probably also identical 

 with the B. fiuorescens nvvalis found in ice-water and described by Schmolck, 

 Gentralhlatt f. Bakteriologiet vol. iv. p. 544. 



Where Found. — This organism, or slight variations of it, has been perhaps 

 more frequently found in Water than any other form. Fick found it also in the 

 conjunctival secretion of a patient from whom a cataract had been removed. 



Microscopic Appearance. — Very short bacillus, about 1 to 1-5 jU long and 

 0-5 /J, broad ; occurs chiefly in pairs, and exhibits a constriction in the middle. 

 It is very motile. No spore formation observed. 



Cultures. — 



GrELATiNE Plates. — Small white dots in the depth ; on the surface they ex- 

 pand, reaching sometimes 3 mm. across, and after forty-eight hours the gelatine 

 becomes liquefied and a well-defined circular depression is formed. Under a 

 low power the brown dotted centre is surrounded by a yellow granular zone, 

 which becomes grey white towards the edge. The whole gelatine assumes 

 gradually a green fluorescence. 



Gelatine Tubes. — In the path of the needle there is a whitish growth, 

 whilst a funnel-shaped depression containing liquid gelatine forms on the sur- 

 face ; the liquefaction gradually stretches across the tube, and finally the whole 

 contents are fluid and of a fluorescent green colour, whilst a thick white deposit 

 collects. 



Potatoes. — Produces a brownish expansion. 



Milk. — Precipitates the casein and completely peptonises it. Yields an acid 

 reaction (Ward, loc. cit). 



Remarks. — It is not pathogenic (Ward, loc. cit.). 



Note. — The characteristic viscid nature of its growth in broth, gelatine, and agar, 

 which was so noticeable that the nsuae viscosus w&s given to it, appears either to have 

 escaped the notice of other observers or to have been absent in the cultures of the 

 organisms described by them. (Percy Frankland.) 



