764 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
about the size of a pin’s head on the surface of the medium, which in 
forty-eight hours was coated with a firmly adherent layer. In 8-12 
days the cultures died all at once. They would not thrive at ordinary 
temperatures and did not grow on potato, milk, or bouillon. Micro- 
scopically these colonies consisted of chains of Diplococci and they are 
denominated by the author jelly-streptococci. This micro-organism was 
found by the author seven times out of the sixteen cases, and the 
opinion is rashly expressed that had this microbe been discovered on 
every occasion there could have been no difficulty about accepting it as 
the exciting cause of influenza. 
Besides the three unknown microbes, the author isolated Staphylo- 
coccus pyogenes aureus , albus , and citreus , Diplococcus pneumonise 
(Fraenkel-Weichselbaum), Streptococcus pyogenes , Staphylococcus cereus , 
albus, and Jlavus, and Friedlaender’s pneumonia bacillus. 
The cultivation medium was made by boiling one kilo of chopped-up 
calf’s lung in 2 litres of distilled water and then adding to the ex- 
pressed filtrate 18 grm. salt, 9 grm. phosphate of potash, 9 grm. sulphate 
of ammonia, 25 grm. sulphate of soda, 90 grm. sugar, 25 grm. pepton, 
and 50 grm. gelatin. When these ingredients were quite dissolved 
10-15 per cent, gelatin or two per cent, agar, thoroughly macerated, 
was added, and the whole boiled to a perfect solution. It was then 
neutralized with equal parts of caustic potash and soda, and after- 
wards diluted with 2J litres of distilled water. Having been 
cooled down to 58° it was cleared up with the whites of four hen’s 
eggs and then boiled up again for a few minutes previous to being 
passed through a hot- water filter. To the filtrate 8-10 per cent, 
glycerin was added and then distributed into test-tubes and flasks, 
wherein it underwent discontinuous sterilization. 
Herr Ribbert,* in a series of further observations on influenza, has 
constantly found Streptococcus pyogenes and once only associated with a 
coccus which appeared to be a modification of Diplococcus pneumonise. 
He is therefore more than ever convinced that this micro-organism has 
some causal connection with influenza, and also opines that the epidemic 
agrees in many points with erysipelas. The coccus was always easily 
demonstrated by cover-glass preparations and also after cultivation. 
Dr. Marmerek,'f in an examination of the bronchial secretion of 
eight cases of undoubted influenza, found in seven a micro-organism re- 
sembling the Fraenkel-Weichselbaum coccus. In only one case could the 
diplococci not be demonstrated. In six cases there developed on agar 
plates colonies about the size of poppy-seeds, of irregular shape, of great 
firmness, of a blackish-brown colour and with indented outline. These 
cocci were stainable by Gram’s method, and formed chains of two to forty 
individuals. These bacteria did not grow on gelatin, but did .so on 
agar and on bouillon. The cultivations lasted only a short time. 
They were not pathogenic to animals. 
The author does not regard this micro-organism as being the 
exciting cause of influenza. 
* Deutsche Med. Wochenschr., 1890, No. 15. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. 
Parasitenk., vii. (1890) pp. 700-1.' 
f Wiener Klin. Wochenschr., 1890, Nos. 8 and 9. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. 
u. Parasitenk., vii. (1890) pp. 509-10. 
