59G MANUAL OF DETERMINATIVE BACTERIOLOGY 



FAMILY XII. BACTERIACEAE COHN.* 



(Arch. f. path. Anat. u. Physiol., 55, 1872, 237.) 



liod-shaped cells without endospores. Motile or non-motile. Gram-positive 

 and Gram-negative. Metabolism complex, amino acids being utilized, and generally 

 carbohydrates. 



This is a heterogeneous collection of species whose relationships to each other and 

 to other groups are not clear. 



Only a single genus is recognized at this time. 



Genus I. Bacterium Ehrenberg. 

 (IV. Evertebrata, Berlin, 1828, 8.) 

 The original description of this genus follows: 



Bacterium, Novum Genus, Familia Vibrionorum. Character Generis: Corpus polygastricum? anen- 

 terum? nudum, oblongum, fusiforme aut filiforme, rectum, monomorphum (contractione nunquam dilata- 

 tum), iiarum flexile (nee aperte undatiim), transverse in multas partes sponte dividuum. 



This may be translated as follows : 



Bacterium, new genus. Family of Vibriona. Character of the genus: Body with many stomachs? 

 without an intestine? naked, oblong, spindle-shaped or filiform, straight, monomorphic (in contraction 

 never dilated), not very pliant (and not definitely wavy), freely separated transversely into many parts. 



The tj'pe species is Bactermm triloculare Ehrenberg. 

 The original description of this species follows; 



B. triloculare nov. spec; distincte triloculare s. triarticulatum, subfusiformum, hyalinum. 

 Animalculum 1/300 lineae longum, corpore tereti. Articuli s. septa interna divisionem instantem multi- 

 pliceni transversam indicare videntur. Mobile sed pigrum animalculum. 

 In Oasi Jovis Hammonis Siwae observatuni, praeterea nuUibi. 



Bacterii Generis jihysiologia huiusque obscurra. Cibo colorato Ventriculos replere hae formae respuunt 

 ideoque ad Polygastrica non misi dubitanter et interim coUocantur. 



This may he translated as follows; 



B. triloculare new. spec. Definitely with three compartments or three jointed, subfusiform, hyaline. 

 Animalcules 1/300 of a line in length, with a smooth body. The joints or internal septa are observed to de- 

 velop preliminary to m.ultiplc transverse splitting. A motile but sluggish animalcule. Observed in the 

 Oasis of Jupiter Ammon of Siwa, nowhere else. 



The physiology of the genus Bacleiium is thus far obscure. These forms refuse to fill their stomachs with 

 colored food and for this reason they are placed with hesitancy and onlj' temporarily in the Polygastrica. 



The original descriptions are taken from Buchanan, General Systematic Bac- 

 teriology, 1925, 213, and the translations are also furnished by him. Buchanan in his 

 book gives an excellent summary of the nomenclatural status of the term Bacterium 

 on pages 213-230. 



Since neither the genus nor the type species is characterized in a way to permit 

 definite identification, the term Bacterium is used to cover species of non-spore- 

 forming, rod-shaped bacteria whose position in the system of classification is not 

 definitely established (Breed and Conn, Jour. Bact., 31, 1936, 517). 



* Completely rearranged by Prof. Robert S. Breed and Mrs. Eleanore JTeist Clise, 

 New York State Experiment Station, Geneva, New York, May, 1946. 



