SPUTUM SEPTICJEMIA. 325 



Below 24° C. there is usually no development, but in a 

 few cases it has been seen to grow at as low a tempera- 

 ture as 18° C. Above 42° C. development is checked. 



It grows as well without as with oxygen. It is 

 therefore one of the facultative anaerobic forms. 



Cultivation of this organism is most successful when 

 the agar-agar-gelatin mixture of Guarniari is employed. 

 (See this medium.) 



It may be stained with the ordinary aniline staining- 

 reagents. For demonstrating the capsule the method 

 of Gram and the acetic-acid method give the best re- 

 sults. (See Stainings.) 



This organism is conspicuous for the irregularity of 

 its behavior when grown under artificial conditions : 

 usually it loses its pathogenic properties after a few 

 generations ; but again this peculiarity may be retained 

 for a much longer time. Not rarely it fails to grow 

 after three or four transplanta,tions on artificial media, 

 though at times it may be carried through many gen- 

 erations. 



Inoculation into Animals. — The results of inocu- 

 lations with pure cultures of this organism are also con- 

 spicuous for their irregularity. When the organism is 

 of full virulence the form of septictemia just described 

 is usually produced, but at times it is found to be totally 

 devoid of pathogenic powers : between these extremes 

 cultures may be obtained possessing every variation in 

 the intensity of their disease-producing properties. 

 The principal pathological conditions that may be pro- 

 duced by the inoculation of susceptible animals with 

 this organism are, according to the degree of its viru- 

 lence, acute septicaemia, spreading inflammatory exuda- 

 tions, and circumscribed abscesses. All three of these 



