452 APPLIED BACTERIOLOGY 



and occurs in the form of short and long chains and 

 filaments. Klein found it to occur in a small percentage 

 of intestinal discharges, and in about 15 per cent, of 

 sewage samples. Klein has not met with it in any other 

 material, and owing to its occurrence in sewage, and its far 

 more restricted distribution than the colon bacillus, Klein 

 is inclined to think that if this species be found in water, 

 such water has most probably been polluted with sewage. 

 Cultural characters : 



Gelatine Plates. — Forms flat, dry, translucent, patch-like 

 colonies, very similar to the colon bacillus, but growth is 

 much more rapid. 



Gelatine Streak. — Forms a translucent band, with filmy, 

 irregular, or crenate edges, very similar to the B. coli. 

 Like the colon bacillus, it grows well in phenolated gelatine 

 and in phenolated broth. 



Gelatine Shake Culture. — Does not form gas. 



Milk. — Does not coagulate. 



Broth. — Does not give the indol reaction after three days' 

 growth at blood-heat. 



Bacillus Ramosus {Wurzel bacillus). — This organism is 

 found in the soil and water. Frequently found by Frank- 

 land in the water of the Thames and the Lea. It much 

 resembles the B. subtilis. It strongly reduces nitrates to 

 nitrites. The bacilli are about 7 t^ long and 1-7 fi broad, 

 the ends being rounded. It occurs in long threads and has 

 resistant spores. Cultural characters : 



Gelatine Plates. — The colonies are seen as cloudy centres 

 with root-hke branches extending in every direction ; the 

 gelatine is slowly liquefied. 



Gelatine Tubes. — In stab cultures a slight depression is 

 seen after the second day, whilst the needle-path in the 

 depth has a grayish woolly appearance. The whole con- 



