194 



Scientific Proceedings (108). 



No radical suppression of the commonly prevailing types was 

 observed when but 150 grams of lactose or dextrin were ingested, 

 barring two notable exceptions. The addition of 150 c.c. of 

 living cultures of B. acidophilus to the 150 grams of lactose or 

 dextrin caused a very pronounced transformation of the fecal 

 flora from the usual mixed type to one strongly dominated by 

 B. acidophilus. The daily ingestion of 300 c.c. of B. acidophilus 

 suspension alone effected simplification of the flora, reducing it 

 to the aciduric type. 



The striking results obtained from the use of milk soured 

 with B. acidophilus bring to view a new avenue of approach to 

 the field of B. acidophilus implantation within the alimentary 

 canal. The administration per os of one liter of B. acidophilus 

 milk, in conjunction with the ordinary daily diet, exercised in 

 every instance a telling effect upon the complex flora, which 

 was clearly manifested within one to six (usually less than three) 

 days in the establishment of a non-gas-producing intestinal flora 

 dominated by B. acidophilus. On the other hand, the ingestion 

 of a similar amount of B. bulgaricus milk offered no encouragement 

 whatever to the aciduric type of organisms. In a few instances 

 the consumption of only 500 c.c. of B. acidophilus milk was 

 sufficient to establish a B. acidophilus flora. The addition of 

 100 grams of lactose or dextrin to 500 c.c. of B. acidophilus milk 

 resulted in a rapid simplification of types in those subjects who 

 did not respond readily to the ingestion of the 500 c.c. of milk 

 culture alone. 



There appears to be a definite correlation between the rate of 

 absorption in the alimentary canal of a utilizable carbohydrate 

 and its tendency to effect a transformation of the intestinal flora. 

 This relation was indicated in the observation that the feces of 

 lactose- and dextrin-fed rats contained reducing substances at 

 the times when B. acidophilus was present in preponderating 

 numbers, while the feces of the animals receiving maltose, sucrose 

 or glucose gave negative results with Benedict's solution and 

 presented no change in the types of bacteria. With the human 

 subjects results were obtained after lactose ingestion similar to 

 those furnished by the albino rats. 



No definite relation could be established, on the other hand, 



