OLADOTHRIX 517 



CLADOTHEIX INTEICATA 



I LIQUEFIE S GELATINE 



Authority. — Kussell, * Untersucliungen iiber im Golf von Neapel lebende 

 Bacterien,' Zeitschrift f. Hygiene, vol. xi., 1891, p. 191. 



Where Found. — In sea-water mud, and by Eussell included under the 

 genus Cladothrix, 



Microscopic Appearance. — Varies according to the nature of the medium 

 in which it is cultivated, its normal appearance being apparently seen when 

 grown on gelatine. In this medium it exhibits long, slender cells with homo- 

 geneous contents united together to form long filaments. When stained with 

 Kiihne's carbolic methylene blue (see p. 46) the divisions of the filament are 

 shown very clearly. In potato cultures the cells are shorter and have rounded 

 ends, and as the age of the culture increases the cells divide up into several 

 short plump individuals, in many of which a slender, oblong spore is visible. 

 It is usually motionless, but now and again distinct motility may be observed. 



Cultures. — 



Gelatine Plates. — In from twenty-four to thhty-six hours small white 

 lustrous mould-like colonies are visible to the naked eye. Under a low power 

 the contents consist of a thick network of threads, from which a number 

 of twisted and interwoven filaments extend into the surrounding gelatine. 

 These filaments grow rapidly, and liquefaction of the gelatine soon ensues. If 

 a stained microscopic preparation be made of one of the filaments, ' false ' 

 branchings are visible, due to the individual cells at various points of the fila- 

 ment becoming partially detached and displaced. These cells in pushing up 

 against one another get bent out of the straight and grow out into the gelatine, 

 although still attached to the original filament by intercalary growth which 

 extends throughout its whole length. In this way Eussell accounts for the 

 appearance of what he considers to be the pseudo -branching of the filament. 

 The pseudo-branches are often spirally intertwined. 



Gelatine Tubes.-— Grows very rapidly, and in twenty-four hours finely- 

 twisted horizontal threads extend all along the needle's path in the depth. 

 The gelatine is quickly liquefied. 



Agab-agab. — Forms an abundant but thin, dull, white expansion, from 

 which fine threads extend into the depth. 



Potatoes. — Forms an irregular, dull, white expansion, which does not 

 increase in size after three days. 



Broth and Sea-water Broth. — Forms an abundant deposit, which on 

 shaking breaks up into small pieces. 



