MYCOBACTERIUM PHLEI. 433 



Mycobacterium phlei.^ (Moeller.) L. and N. 



(Plate 63, VIII-XII.) 



We here consider the micro-organisms described under the follow- 

 ing names: " Moeller's manure organism, " Moeller's grass organism 

 I, from timothy grass, Petri's butter organism. Judging from his in- 

 sufficient description, Petri appears to have often found also the Myc. 

 lactioola, but he did not distinguish the forms. We do not believe 

 any great value can be attached to the insignificant differences be- 

 tween these cultvires (bouillon diffusely cloudy or only with a pre- 

 cipitate). The work of Dr. Kumulis will contain details regarding 

 this. Obviously the timothy organism of Lubarsch also belongs here. 



Literature. — Petri (A. G. A. xiv, 1). Lubarsch (Z. H. xxxi, 

 153). 



Microscopic Appearance. — After growing for three 

 or four days the rods are strikingly short and thick, and 

 in this condition resemble the Corynebact. pseudophtherit- 

 icum very rnuch. Later they become longer, sometimes 

 clubbed ; they also branch, and are then not distinguish- 

 able from the two preceding varieties (63, xii, a and 6). 

 They are not motile. The staining properties, intensity of 

 growth, and relation to oxygen are just the same as in the 

 Mycobact. lactioola. 



Glycerin-agar Plate. — After a few days the macro- 

 scopic colonies are orange-red, with a wavy smooth border, 

 without wrinkles and with a moist luster (63, xi). When 

 magnified sixty times, the colonies are transparent, with a 

 dark nucleus and markings like curls of hair. Toward the 

 periphery is a delicate, transparent, more or less crumbly 

 zone with a fringed, notched border (63, ix). Later the in- 

 terior of the colony becomes darker and more opaque ; 

 only at the edge is there a delicate, veil-like zone. 



Glycerin-agar Streak Culture. — Luxuriant, succu- 

 lent, bright orange-red, homogeneous growth, which in 

 time presents knobby elevations, but yet later, and especially 

 in very old cultures, a considerable wrinkling appears, and 

 then, except by the color, it is indistinguishable from 

 Mycob. lactioola /3 perrugosum (63, viii). In the gelatin 

 streak culture the wrinkling is never so marked; in gen- 

 eral, the growth on gelatin is somewhat less. 



Bouillon Culture. — Sometimes there is a thin pellicle ; 



' Timothy-grass is scientifically called Phleum pratense. 

 28 



