1912.] B. cloacae {Jordan) on Citric and Malic Acids. 



9 



ratio CO2/C2H4O2 for malic acid is four times as great as that for citric 

 acid. Table III gives the results of an experiment showing the actual 

 weights and percentages of the substances found, and the corresponding 

 number of carbon atoms. In Table IV are given the results of three 

 further experiments, in which the succinic acid and residual citric acid were 

 not determined. 



Table III. 





Grammes. 



Percentages. 



Carbon atoms. 



Carbon dioxide 



2 -40 



37 -8 



1 -63 



Acetic acid 



3-36 



53 -0 



3 "39 



Formic acid 



0-07 



1 -2 



0-05 





0-19 



3-0 



0-19 





0-06 







Total 



6-08 



95 -0 



5-26 



Citric acid used up = 6 '4 — '05 = 6 "35 grm. 



Table IV. 





b. 



c. 



d. 





grm. 



grm. 



grm. 





3 -48 



2-58 



2 -73 





3 -04 



3 52 



3 -16 



Formic acid 



None 



None 



None 



From these results the molecular ratios were calculated. 





a. 



b. 



0. 



d. 



Molecular ratio, 2 



C,H 4 2 



0-97 



1-56 



1-0 



1-18 



VII. Action of B. cloacse on Citric Acid in the Absence of Oxygen. 



In contrast with the growth of B. cloacce in the presence of oxygen, that in 

 -absence of the latter results in the production of a small amount of formic 

 ■■acid. There is also an increased production of acetic acid, and the molecular 

 ratio CO2/C2H4O2 diminishes markedly. Tables V and VI give the results 

 of two experiments ; in a third experiment (c), the carbon dioxide and acetic 

 .acid only were determined. 



