448 APPLIED BACTEEIOLOGY 



The organism is exceedingly small, being only about 1 fi in. 

 length and from 0*1 to 0-2 /^ in thickness ; it is non-motile. 

 Two organisms frequently occur together, and they contain 

 spores. Mice inoculated die in from forty to sixty hours, 

 when the bacilli are found in the blood, particularly in the 

 capillaries of the kidneys and spleen. Probably identical 

 with hog-erysipelas. Cultural characters : 



Gelatine Plates. — Grows in the depth as a delicate white 

 cloud. 



Gelatine Tubes. — Along the track of the needle in the 

 depth is seen a branching, cloud-like growth, which is 

 more marked in the lower than in the upper layers. No 

 liquefaction of the gelatine takes place. 



Agar-Agar. — Pale-yellow sharply - defined colonies are 

 formed. 



Peat Bacteria. — Two organisms, ' ' and ' Q,' have been 

 described by Dr. A. C. Houston (Local Government Board 

 Eeport, Supplement containing medical officer's report, 

 1893-4), who obtained them from peat. These two bacteria 

 give rise to acidity when grown in peat-infusion, which 

 has a great solvent action upon lead. It is to these 

 organisms that is attributed the cause of the lead-solvent 

 power in waters from peaty districts. 



Photo-Bacillus Balticum — Photo-Bacillus Fischeri — Photo- 

 Bacillus Fluggeri. — These three phosphorescent bacteria 

 give rise to the phosphorescent appearance seen in the sea 

 in various places, on fish, decaying wood, etc. They are 

 short rods, which frequently occur in chains. The first 

 two organisms liquefy gelatine very rapidly, but the last 

 does not. This last organism — the Photo-bacillus Fliiggeri 

 has the most marked phosphorescent power. Beyerinck 

 states that these organisms are best grown in fish-broth 

 made with sea-water, to which is added 1 per cent, of 



