292 BACTERIA 



their part in complicating the disease. The bacillus pos- 

 sesses five negative characters ; namely, it has no spores, 

 threads, or power of mobility, and does not produce lique- 

 faction or gas. It stains with Lof^er's methylene blue, and 

 shows metachromatic granules and polar staining. Its 

 favourable temperature is blood-heat, though it will grow at 

 room temperature. It is aerobic, and, indeed, prefers a 

 current of air. Lofifler contrived a medium for cultivation 

 which has proved most successful. It is made by mixing 

 three parts of ox-blood serum with one part of broth con- 

 taining I per cent, of glucose, i per cent, of peptone, and \ 

 per cent, of common salt ; the whole is coagulated. Upon 

 this medium the Klebs-LofHer bacillus grows rapidly in 

 eighteen or twenty hours, producing scattered " nucleated " 

 round white colonies, becoming yellowish. It grows well 

 in broth, but without producing either a pellicle or turbidity ; 

 it can grow on the ordinary media, though its growth on 



house exert a very prejudicial effect upon tubercular patients. Sir Richard 

 Thorne Thorne ' has described the favourable house for such persons as one 

 built upon a soil which is dry naturally or freed by artificial means from the 

 injurious influences of dampness and of the oscillations of the underlying sub- 

 soil. The house itself should be so constructed as to be protected against 

 dampness of site, foundations, and walls. Upon at least two opposite sides of 

 the dwelling-house there should be enough open space to secure ample move- 

 ment of air about it, and free exposure to sunlight. Lastly, it should be pos- 

 sible to have free movement of air by day and night through all habitable 

 rooms of the house. It is clear that many inhabited houses could not stand to 

 these tests ; but effort should be made to approach as near to such a standard 

 as possible. 



17. Sunlight and fresh air are the greatest enemies to infection. 



18. Disinfection is necessary after death from phthisis^ and should be as 

 complete as after any other infective disease. Compulsory notification of fatal 

 cases and compulsory disinfection have been officially ordered by the Prussian 

 Government. In this country also absolute disinfection should always be in- 

 sisted upon after phthisis. Walls, floors, carpets, curtains, etc., should be 

 strictly sterilised. Professor Delepine recommends spraying with i-ioo solu- 

 tion of chloride of lime. 



'^Practitioner, vol. xlvi. 



