560 PATHOGENIC AEROBIC BACILLI 
BACILLUS GRACILIS CADAVERIS (Sternberg). 
Obtained (1889) from a fragment of liver, of man, kept for forty-eight 
hours in an antiseptic wrapping. ; : 
Morphology.—Bacilli about 1 « broad and 2 “ long, associated in long 
chains. 
Biological Characters.—An aérobie and facultative anaérobic, non- 
motile, non-liquefying bacillus. Spore formation not observed. In gelatin 
roll-tubes the deep colonies are opaque and spherical; superficial colonies 
circular or slightly irregular in outline, white in color, and opaque or slightly 
translucent. In gelatin stab cultures, at 22° C., at the end of five days a 
rather thick, white mass at the point of puncture, covering one-third of the 
surface, and closely crowded, opaque colonies at bottom of line of puncture, 
with slender, branching outgrowth above. In nutrient agar, at the end of 
five days at 22° C.,a milk-white growth upon the surface and opaque 
growth to bottom of line of puncture. On potato, at end of five days at 
22° C., rather thick, cream-white growth with irregular margins along the 
impfstrich. Cultures in bouillon have a milky opacity and a very disagree- 
able odor. Grows in agua coco without formation of gas.- 
Pathogenic for rabbits when injected into the cavity of the abdomen. 
CAPSULE BACILLUS OF NICOLAIER. 
Obtained by Nicolaier (1894) from pus contained in an abscess of the kid- 
ney—obtained post-morten.. 
Morphology.—Thick bacilli, with rounded ends, usually four times as 
long as thick, and frequently presenting irregular outlines ; often united in 
pairs, and sometimes growing out into filaments; cocci-like forms also occur. 
Often surrounded by a capsule which vemains unstained in stained prepara- 
tions. Does not stain by Gram’s method. 
Biological Characters.—An aérobic, and facultative anaérobic, non- 
liquefying, non-motile bacillus. Does not form spores, Grows at the room 
temperature and more rapidly at 37° C. Upon gelatin plates at 20° C., at 
the end of twenty-four to thirty-six hours punctiform colonies are devel- 
oped, which under a low power appear finely granular, and grayish-yellow 
spheres. At the end of forty-eight to sixty hours the superficial colonies ap- 
pear as round or slightly irregular, grayish-white discs, which project but lit- 
tle above the surface of the gelatin, and have thin, transparent margins. 
The deep colonies have a sharply defined contour, with dark-brown centre 
and a purely granular pale-brown marginal zone. In gelatin stab cultures 
aslightly elevated, moist-looking, sticky layer with more or less transparent 
margins is developed. In slanting cultures this growth gradually slips down 
to the lowest part of the exposed surface, leaving a thin, gray, transparent 
layer over the gelatin ; along the line of puncture a ribbon-like, grayish- 
white growth with irregular margins is developed. In media containin 
glucose some gas bubbles are developed. The growth is much more rapi 
in the incubating oven at 37° C., and there is an abundant development of 
gas in agar tubes. Upon potato a grayish-white, slimy mass with a shining 
surface is quickly developed. In bouillon, at the end of twenty-four hours, 
at 37° C., the medium is clouded throughout, and a grayish-white deposit ac- 
aes at the bottom of the tube. Development occurs also in acid 
media. 
Pathogenesis.—Pathogenic for house mice, white mice, and for rats—not 
for rabbits or guinea-pigs—by subcutaneous injections. As Nicolaier has 
made a careful comparison of the characters of the various ‘ capsule bacilli” 
described, we quote from him as follows : 
‘Our bacillus in its morphology and growth in various media closely re- 
sembles that of Fasching and of Abel, both of which were obtained in patho- 
