■■^Wwis^ 



PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 327 



Bacillus Edematis Maligni (French, Vibrion septique).~k 

 bacillus about i m in breadth, 2 to lo m in length, which may 

 form threads, having rounded ends when occurring singly. It 

 is motile, having flagella at the sides and ends. It forms 

 spores, and may bulge at the center in consequence of the 

 spores formed there. It retains the stain by Gram's method. 

 It is a strict anaerobe. It grows at ordinary temperatures, but 

 better in the incubator. It liquefies gelatin and blood-serum. 

 The colonies in gelatin are spherical and appear like little 

 bubbles. It grows well upon agar. Gas may be produced in 

 these media. 



It is found in garden-earth, street dirt and in putrefying 

 organic material. It is pathogenic to rabbits, guinea-pigs, 

 mice, pigeons and various other animals, including man.* 

 Inoculation results in the production of swelling and edema, 

 spreading from the point of inoculation. Gas may be pro- 

 duced in the tissue. It may lead to wide-spread septicemia. 



Bacillus Tetani. — A slim, straight bacillus, with rounded 

 ends, which may form in threads. It is slightly motile. 

 Spores form in culture-media at the end of thirty hours in the 

 incubator. The spores are usually round though it is stated 

 that they are egg-shaped when grown on media containing 

 much sugar or on rice, located at one end, which is swollen, so 

 that in this stage the organism has the shape of a drum-stick. 

 The spores are extremely resistant, and in the dry condition 

 remain capable of germinating under favorable conditions for 

 years. 



Earlier statements in regard to the destruction of tetanus 

 spores by steam have generally placed the length of exposure 

 much too short. Among others, Theobald Smithf found the 

 spores much more resistant to sterilization by steam than the 

 statements usually made. He found that in some cases the 



* Gould. Am. Surgery. October, 1903. 



■\ Journ. Am. Med. Assn. March 21, 1908. pp. 929-934. 



