THE LACTERIOLOGY OF THE OYSTER ANH OTHER SHELLFISH. 
51 
We have considered it therefore of importance to examine specially for this organism 
a number of samples of oysters and other shellfish, as shown in the following table. 
The methods we have employed are these : — The shellfish have been carefully opened, 
and the water and "juices" surrounding the animal have been taken up in a sterilized 
pipette. A freshly-prepared milk tube, sterilized by boiling for one hour, is kept at a 
temperature of 80° C, and then inoculated and kept at 80° C. for fifteen minutes. The 
inoculated titbe is then placed in a pyrogallate of soda tube (Buchner's method), and 
in addition the air replaced by running in hydrogen ; the tube is firmly stoppered, and 
then transferred to the incubator and kept at 37'^ C. Well-marked results were obtained 
in 24 hours. 
One cubic centimetre of the whey from the above tubes was inoculated sub- 
cutaneously in the groin of guinea-pigs. The results were noted after 24 hours. 
oiieiinsii. 
Simole 
Action on Milk in absence 
of Oxygen. 
Results of Inoculation 
in Animals. 
Remarks on Mici oscopic 
Preparations. 
Oysters. 
I 
2 
Coagulation. No gas. 
None. 
No effect. 

Short spore-bearing j 
bacilli present. ! 
J, 
3 
None. 
— 
4 
Coagulation. Gas 
formed. 
Local necrosis. 
5 
Slight coagulation. 
Slight gas formation. 
Swelling. 
Abundant gas. 
S wellmg. 
7 
8 
None. 
None. 
9 
None. 
10 
None. 
1 1 
None. 
Mussels. 
I 
Coagulation. Gas 
formation. 
Swelling. 
Large spore-bearing 
anaerobic bacilli present. 
Marked coagulation. 
Gas formation. 
Swelling. 
Do. 
3 
Do. do. 
Swelling. 
4 
Do. do. 
Swelling. 
5 
Do. do. 
Nothing. 
6 
None. 
Cockles. 
I 
Marked coagulation. 
Gas formation. 
Extensive necrosis 
and swelling. 
Small bacilli present. 
Do. do. 
Do. 
Large spore-bearing 
anaerobic bacilli present. 
3 
Do. do. 
Do. 
4 
Slight coagulation. 
No gas. 
Slight local reaction. 
Periwinkle.* 
I 
Coagulation. Gas 
formation. 
Slight swelling. 
Large spore-bearing 
anaerobic bacilli present. 
* Large Litlorhta liltorea from the west coast of Scotland. 
