ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
317 
occurred, the casein had separated out and had been carried to the sur- 
face by the gases developed. When the vessel was opened, there was 
a more or less distinct odour of butyric acid. The fermentation was 
found to be associated with the presence of three kinds of anaerobic 
bacteria, of which two were probably merely varieties of the same species. 
These two were motionless, while the third was motile and flagel- 
lated. All three stained by Gram’s method ; they fermented milk- 
sugar, grape-sugar, and starch, but not lactic acid ; they are essential 
anaerobes, and form butyric acid freely. Milk is strongly fermented, 
with evolution of gas. Casein is separated in lumps, but is not pep- 
tonised. Two of them liquefy gelatin. The non-motile species which 
does not liquefy gelatin forms a small quantity of inactive lactic acid. 
The other two form dextro-lactic acid. 
Bacillus icteroides.* — Dr. E. London examined a virulent culture 
of B. icteroides , sent by Sanarelli to Prof. Lukjanow. Sanarelli’s de- 
scription is on the whole confirmed, though the author disputes certain 
details, and while agreeing that the organism is pathogenic, is of opinion 
that its specific relation to yellow fever is not yet proved. 
Effect of small Quantities of Glucose on the Vitality of Bacteria.! 
— Dr. F. E. Hellstrom finds that the addition of glucose in the propor- 
tion of 0*1 for cholera, 0*2 for typhoid, and 0*3 for other kinds of 
bacteria to simple bouillon (2 1. water to 1 kg. meat) without pepton, 
and with a neutral or faintly acid initial reaction, exerts within a few 
days a deleterious action, owing to the medium turning acid. 
When the medium contains a still smaller quantity of nutritive ma- 
terial, a less amount of glucose suffices to bring about a fatal effect ; and 
conversely, when the amount of nutritive substance is greater, a larger 
amount of glucose is required to exert a pernicious action. 
A small quantity of glucose in bouillon is favourable to the increase 
of essential aerobes, and this amount of glucose stands in direct relation 
to that of the nutritive material in the bouillon. 
Micrococcus phytophthorus.J — Prof. Frank states that the cause of 
potato rot is Micrococcus jphylojph thorns, and that the black disease of the 
stems is also due to the same organism. M. pliytophtliorus is easily 
cultivated on gelatin, and does not liquefy the medium. It is about 
0*5 fx in diameter. As a rule it occurs singly, but diplococci and short 
chains are not rare. It is found chiefly between the cells. Pure cultures 
inoculated on healthy plants reproduced the disease. 
Bacteriosis of the Leaves of Oneidium sp.§ — Dr. V. Peglion states 
that Oneidium leaves are sometimes attacked by a disease which makes 
them fleshy, stiff, and cylindrical ; they are traversed by four deep fur- 
rows, and covered with violet-brown spots. When the disease is more 
advanced the tissue softens, and a liquid is produced. In this fluid are 
multitudes of micro-organisms (1* 30-1 *5 /x x 0*8-1 /x). From this 
fluid cultures were obtained on agar plates and also on bean decoction 
to which had been added saccharose and some bicarbonate of soda. The 
latter fluid was also used as solid medium by adding 2 per cent. agar. 
* J.A. Journ. Russ. Gesellscli. f. Gesundheits., 1898. See Beib. Bot. Centralbl. 
viii. (1899) pp. 375-6. 
t Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., l le Abt., xxv. (1899) pp. 170-80, 217-23. 
t Op. cit., 2 te Abt., v. (1899) pp. 98-102, 134-9 (3 figs.) § Tom. cit., pp. 33-7. 
