STE T° 
SPIRILLUM METSCHANIKOVI. 593 
of the liquefied gelatin in the form of a coiled mass, 
while a thin, yellowish layer forms upon the surface ; 
complete liquefaction usually occurs in about two weeks. 
Upon the surface of agar a thin, yellowish layer is de- 
veloped. Blood-serum is rapidly liquefied. The indol 
reaction in peptone solutions is absent. 
Pathogenesis. Somewhat pathogenic for guinea-pigs 
when inoculated by Koch’s method with previous ad- 
ministration of soda solution and laudanum. 
It is probable that this organism, from the locality in 
which it is found and its behavior, is a saprophyte. 
SPIRILLUM METSCHNIKOVI. 
Discovered in 1888, in Odessa, by Gamaleia in the 
intestinal contents of fowls dying of an infectious dis- 
ease which prevails in certain parts of Russia during 
the summer months, and which presents symptoms 
resembling fowl-cholera. Gamaleia’s experiments show 
that this organism is the cause of the disease mentioned. 
It has since been found by Pfuhl and Pfeiffer in the water 
of the Spree at Berlin, and in the Lahn by Kutchler. 
Morphology. Morphologically this spirillum is almost 
identical with the cholera spirilluam; it forms curved 
rods with rounded ends and spiral filaments, the curved 
segments being somewhat thicker, shorter, and often 
more decidedly curved than the comma bacillus. In 
the blood of inoculated pigeons the diameter is some 
times twice as great as that of the cholera spirillum, 
and almost coccus-like forms are often found. A single, 
long, undulating flagellum is attached to one end of the 
spiral filaments or curved rods. In old cultures beau- 
tiful long spiral filaments may be seen. 
38 
