( 59 ) 
decomposed if at the same time other nutriment was present. To 
this end either */> % mannite or Vs % peptone was added to the 
above culture liquid, which contained excess of uric acid. After two 
days mannite was still present. 
Uric acid assimilated in two days 
j in the solution with peptone | in the solution with mannite 
151 mG. 91 mG. 
82 " | ' 48 ■ 
41 » j 35 » 
79 " | 60 » 
These data prove that even if at the same time an easily assimilable 
substance is present, the uric acid is still attacked and is a good 
nutriment for the said species. 
3. Bacteria active in the aerobic decomposition of uric acid. 
As said above these bacteria belong to two consecutive floras; 
the first is fount! as long as the medium reacts neutrally or is feebly 
acid, the second, characteristic of the alkaline phase, may be called 
“urea-flora”, as the urea, produced by the first flora, is by it converted 
into ammonium carbonate. 
a. Flora of the acid or neutral phase. 
Like my predecessors I used uric acid at the same time as source 
of carbon and of nitrogen. Two different liquid culture jpoedia were 
prepared: ' 
1. The liquid of Gerard (l.c.): 1 G. of uric acid, 12 G. K’HPO\ 
1000 cM. s tapwater. 
2. 1 G. of uric acid, 0.1 G. K * 1 2 HPO\ 1000 cM.* tapwater. 
Between these two culture liquids there exists, besides in the rate 
of phosphate, a remarkable difference: In Gerard’s liquid all the 
uric acid is dissolved and the reaction is neutral. In the other it is 
acid to the end, although feebly, by the excess of uric acid, even if 
by the bacteria ammonia is produced. Both liquids were filled into 
small Erlenmeyer flasks so that the layer was i X cM. high. 
Garden soil was used for the inoculation. At 30° in both tubes .a 
rich culture was observed after 2 X 24 hours, and the transfers also 
went very well. 
B. pyocyaneus 
B. fluorescens 
B. calco-aceticum 
