346 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Cl. dichotoma also produces the earthy smell. On these media conid- 
formation is copious ; while on gelatin this does not occur, since the 
colonies sink through the liquefied gelatin to the bottom. The writer 
believes that Cl. odorifera is only a variety of dichotoma which has 
gradually adapted itself to its environment and acquired its charac- 
teristic property. The earthy odour may cling to the soil (natural or 
artificial) long after the disappearance of the organism itself. 
New Water Vibrio.* — Prof. R. Jorge isolated from the water 
supplied to the town of Porto, an organism which, while it possesses 
the morphological features of a vibrio, is devoid of most characteristics 
peculiar to that class of microbe ; it does not liquefy gelatin ; it does not 
coagulate milk ; it does not form a film on the surface of pepton solu- 
tions ; it developes not at all or very poorly on potato ; it has no 
pathogenic action on animals. 
Bacillus fsecalis alcaligenes sp. n. j — Dr. J. Petruschky has found 
that Bacillus fsecalis alcaligenes is frequently present in human evacua- 
tions, especially in cases with symptoms of enteric fever. Morphologi- 
cally and physiologically it closely resembles B. typhosus and B. coli. 
Prom the former it is easily distinguished by cultivations in litmus- 
whey, which at first is rendered cloudy and afterwards becomes alkaline. 
With B. typhosus it remains clear and is slightly acid. B. coli of course 
gives a strongly acid reaction. When cultivated on potato, a pretty 
thick overlay with browning serves to distinguish B. alcaligenes from 
B. typhosus. 
The milk-coagulation test for these three organisms is not nearly so 
satisfactory as the litmus test; but if no coagulation have occurred, 
then the reaction alone is a safe criterion. Should the litmus-whey 
cultures be indecisive, the immunity test may be applied by testing 
guinea-pigs with typhoid serum. 
Bacillus botulinus.j; — Bacillus hotulinus was isolated by Dr. E. van 
Ermengem from a ham which in December 1895 was the cause of 
serious and even fatal illnesses. The ham did not present any of the 
objective signs of putrefaction. B. hotulinus is of large size ; is strictly 
anaerobic ; is mobile, having numerous flagella ; and forms terminal 
spores. It rapidly liquefies gelatin, especially if the media contain 
dextrose. It does not attack lactose. The colonies are sharply defined 
and circular. The cultures are pathogenic to numerous animals, and the 
symptoms similar to those produced by the ham when eaten by cats, 
pigeons, rabbits, guinea-pigs, and monkeys. The toxin is very active, 
and produces very similar effects to those caused by the ham on the 
animal economy. 
Prom the spleen of one of the persons who died from the effects of 
eating the ham, a microbe absolutely identical with B. hotulinus was 
isolated. 
Role of Pever in Infectious Disease. § — M. Cheinisse infected rab- 
bits with Staphylococcus, and applied lotions of ga'iacol which suppressed 
* Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., l te Abt., xix. (1896) pp. 277-81. 
f Tom. cit., pp. 187-91. { Ann. de Micrograpkie, viii. (1896) pp. 66-8. 
§ Comptes Rendus, exxii. (1896) pp. 35-7. 
