BACILLUS PESTIS 373 



slow. It does not cause a diffuse clouding of bouillon, but 

 grows rather as irregular, flocculent clumps that adhere to 

 the sides or sink to the bottom of the vessel, leaving the fluid 

 clear. It shows but limited growth on potato. It does not 

 ferment glucose with production of gas, nor does it form 

 indol. It coagulates milk. 



Fig. 73 

 A 



Bacillus of bubonic plague: A, in pus from suppurating bubo; B, the 

 bacillus very much enlarged to show peculiar polar staining. 



This organism is killed by drying at ordinary room-tem- 

 perature in four days. It is killed in three or four hours 

 by direct sunlight. It is destroyed in a half hour by 80° 

 C, and in a few minutes by 100° C. (steam). It is killed in 



